Bruce Graham Atkinson pleads guilty in Chinchilla Magistrates Court to drink driving, trespass, public nuisance, fail to appear

An elderly man became heated when attempting to get his bond money back from a real estate agent, and his actions eventually landed him in front of a magistrate.

When faced with this prospect of not getting his bond back, a 70-year-old Chinchilla man took it into his own hands.

But when the situation became heated, the police were called.

Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins told Chinchilla Magistrates Court Bruce Graham Atkinson consumed alcohol and confronted First National Chinchilla in 2019 about not getting his bond back.

“He had a verbal argument with staff, abusing staff, refusing to leave. This is their version, obviously he has a slightly different version,” he said.

“After being requested to leave on several occasions, they (real estate agency) called police.

“When police arrived they could hear the disturbance and the yelling. Police located him standing in the doorway yelling incoherently at staff.

“Staff attempted to close the front door to the office, then the defendant attempted to rip the door with his hands and the staff barricaded inside the office away from him.”

Mr Hutchins said police then moved Atkinson to the footpath where he admitted to drinking a glass of alcohol before driving to the real estate agency.

The breath test came back positive with a reading of 0.060.

“I accept he was aggrieved with the real estate agent, but there are other mechanisms to take those grievances out. Once they say you can’t come here regardless of whether you like it or not (you have to go).

“A bond amount is not a small amount of money and I’m sure he was legitimately upset, he just went about it the wrong way.”

Atkinson pleaded guilty to drink driving, trespass, public nuisance and failing to appear in court.

Atkinson told the court that while he had a different version of events, he agreed with the presented facts.

“That pretty much covers it … I’m not sure exactly how the conversation took place,” he said.

“I agree with what you said. Go ahead and finalise it on that basis.

“I didn’t physically assault anybody or threaten to do so. They were withholding my bond. I don’t think my behaviour was antagonistic.

“I will plead guilty for the sake of taking the matter off your list and cleaning it up.”

Magistrate Turra said he acknowledged the defendant was “disgruntled and had a legitimate concern”, but it was his matter of presentation that escalated the conflict.

“The prosecution have submitted a penalty that is probably less than what I think is warranted in the circumstances,” the magistrate said.

“But I do grant that concession and particularly note that you are willing to facilitate the course of justice today sir and you should be given some credit for that.”

Atkinson was handed a $200 fine and 1 month disqualification for the drink driving charge and another $200 for all other offences.