Jayden Thomas Moran in court for assault at Bundaberg Central Hotel

A security guard at the Central Hotel in Bundaberg was punched in the head after a young man’s girlfriend was called a ‘stupid b----’ and told to shut up - but it was the wrong bouncer. Read what was said in court.

A night out on the town to celebrate his girlfriend’s birthday turned into a court date for a Bundaberg man after he punched a bouncer.

Jayden Thomas Moran pleaded guilty and was convicted in Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Monday to assault occasioning bodily harm.

The incident unfolded in the early hours of September 18, 2021.

Moran and his partner had been out celebrating her birthday when staff at the Central Hotel in Bundaberg refused her entry.

The court heard there was some verbal abuse hurled at security, with one security guard retorting by yelling “shut up, you stupid b----”.

Moran, a 21-year-old labourer, became upset and swung a closed-fist punch at the head of a member of the security team - but it was a different security guard.

The punch pushed the guard backwards and gave him a cut to his face and a bleeding nose.

Magistrate Edwina Rowan said that while she understood Moran had acted in a protective manner and that the security guard who yelled the insult had “no excuse” to say what he had, it was still no reason to react with violence.

The court heard Moran’s offending was “out of character”.

Ms Rowan fined Moran $880, referred to SPER.

“I’m hopeful that we will not see a repeat of that incident again,” she said.

No conviction was recorded.