Brendan Peter Sims in court for assaulting security at Star Casino

A Hervey Bay businessman was removed from a bar at the Star Casino on the Gold Coast before getting into a tussle with casino security.

Brendan Peter Sims leaves Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on August 22, 2023

A Hervey Bay businessman who assaulted a security guard while drunk at Star Casino on the Gold Coast was given 80 hours community service when he faced Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Brendan Peter Sims, 34, pleaded guilty to common assault in a public place while affected by an intoxicating substance.

The court heard that at 12:20am on July 22, Sims was removed from a bar in the casino after pestering a group to the point where one of them shoved him. An argument then occurred between he and the security guards in the casino’s foyer, which escalated into Sims throwing a punch which hit the one of them on the left cheek.

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Sims was then restrained until police arrived.

Brendan Peter Sims leaves Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on August 22, 2023

The court heard he admitted to the assault saying, “I lost it and hit him” but said the victim had allegedly threatened him by saying “Watch your family m----------r”.

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Sims‘ lawyer said he was “remorseful for his actions” and had made an early guilty plea to “avoid lengthening the victim’s trauma”.

She said her client was on anti-anxiety and depression medication which “he had been responding well to”.

Magistrate Trinity McGarvie described the incident “as an act of violence fuelled by alcohol” noting the 0.195 blood alcohol level Sims recorded on the night.

Sims was ordered to complete 80 hours of community service within a year.

A conviction was recorded.