Damon Thomas Bust pleads guilty to public nuisance

The man’s lawyer told the court his victim had handed him back the cigarettes after their violent brawl.

Damon Thomas Bust pleaded guilty to one count of public nuisance when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court on Monday.

A dispute over stolen cigarettes has resulted in two men fighting out the front of a Biggenden hotel.

Damon Thomas Bust, 25, pleaded guilty to one count of public nuisance when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court on Monday.

The court heard on April 17, 2025, at the Commercial Hotel in Biggenden, an argument had erupted between Bust and another man which resulted in them both being removed from the hotel.

Bust believed the other man had taken his cigarettes, the court was told.

While out the front of the hotel, the two were involved in a physical fight and patrons from the hotel had to come outside and break it up, the court heard.

The two threw several punches at each other, the court was told and both ended up on the ground wrestling until they were separated.

Damon Thomas Bust pleaded guilty to one count of public nuisance when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court on Monday.

A couple of days later police spoke to Bust, who made admissions regarding the incident, saying he believed his cigarettes had been stolen.

He was given a 28-day ban notice from the hotel.

Duty lawyer Warren Hunter said it might seem trivial, but a packet of cigarettes was about $80 and his packet on that night had been almost three quarters full.

“In fact at the end of this blue outside, this bloke actually returned the cigarettes to him,” Mr Hunter said.

He said his client had retaliated but not in an appropriate way.

Bust, who had no criminal history, was very remorseful, Mr Hunter said.

He said Bust worked as a mechanic at his father’s business in Biggenden.

Bust had travelled from Biggenden and had lost a full day’s pay by travelling for the court matter, Mr Hunter said.

He said it was unlikely Bust would be back before the courts again.

Magistrate Janelle Boegheim sentenced Bust to a $750 good behaviour bond for a period of 12 months.