‘The glass was smashed’: Seymour Johnson gives bizarre reason for brazen restaurant act

A man charged with serious criminal trespass and theft after a break-in at a top Adelaide restaurant has given a judge a bizarre reason he was inside the building.

A man will remain behind bars after he and two youths allegedly helped themselves to alcohol in a smash and grab at a popular Adelaide restaurant, a court heard.

Seymour Johnson, 33, was denied bail in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday after Gaucho’s Argentinian Eatery was the latest restaurant to be targeted in escalating youth crime.

Police were called to the Gouger St restaurant after reports a window was smashed and liquor stolen on Sunday, about 4am.

Police later arrested Mr Johnson and two boys – a 13-year-old boy from Ottoway and an 11-year-old from Ingle Farm.

Seymour Johnson was denied bail for serious criminal trespass and theft. Photo: Facebook

A prosecutor told the court they weren’t opposed to bail but asked for a non-contact clause with the two youth co-accused.

“So, he’s allegedly gone to a well known restaurant on Gouger St, smashed the front glass door, gone inside and helped himself to whatever he could find – mainly alcohol,” Magistrate David McLeod remarked.

Mr Seymour, of Ingle Farm, is charged with serious criminal trespass and theft.

Counsel, for Mr Johnson, told the court her client was not the antagoniser and didn’t smash the glass himself.

“My instructions are that he was walking up the street and the glass was smashed ahead of him,” she said.

The court heard drinking was an issue for Mr Johnson, which was something he wanted to address.

Mr McLeod denied Mr Johnson bail due to the seriousness of the allegations and adjourned the charges until December.