Keanu Jack Neilson in court for being a public nuisance

A pub crawl that started at the Metro Hotel finished in the watchhouse for the birthday boy’s brother. It’s what happened in between that landed him with a big fine.

After a night of spirited birthday celebrations went awry, Bundaberg man Keanu Jack Neilson woke up in the local watchhouse with no memory of how he got there.

After a night of spirited birthday celebrations went awry, Bundaberg man Keanu Jack Neilson woke up in the local watchhouse with no memory of how he got there.

Neilson, 20, on Monday pleaded guilty in Bundaberg Magistrates Court to three charges, including two counts of committing public nuisance in a licensed premise.

The court was told Neilson was celebrating his brother’s birthday on September 17, 2022 at the Metro Hotel when he caused a scene.

Police prosecutor Andrew Powis told the court Neilson was refused service at the hotel after becoming “unduly intoxicated”.

Neilson was seen standing on chairs and hanging off poker machines, the court heard.

While standing on a chair, Neilson and the chair fell and he narrowly avoided hitting his head on the edge of a nearby table.

Keanu Neilson

Magistrate Edwina Rowan told Nielsen he was lucky he didn’t hurt himself.

Neilson was kicked out of the Metro Hotel where he loitered around and was verbally abusive to staff before making his way to the Club Hotel at 5.50pm.

Staff at the Club Hotel noticed he was extremely drunk and he was evicted from there as well, the court heard.

“Attempts were made to remove him and he became aggressive towards staff and attempted to intimidate staff,” Senior Constable Powis said.

When Neilson lashed out at Club Hotel staff police arrive to find Neilson “extremely intoxicated and unsteady on his feet. He was subsequently arrested.

Defence lawyer Matt Maloy said Neilson was celebrating with his brother when he drank way too much.

“He said he was drinking cognac which he has never drunk before and he has absolutely no recollection of what occurred apart from waking up at the watchhouse,” Mr Maloy said.

Ms Rowan considered Neilson’s early guilty plea but said his treatment of hotel staff was not on.

“You have to appreciate the staff have a hard enough job without dealing with intoxicated patrons,” she said.

“You are a young man and you need to ensure you are not getting so intoxicated that you have no memory, particularly when you do not know what your actions were.”

Neilson was fined $900 and no conviction was recorded.