Magistrate tells man to ‘go out and grow up’

A 23-YEAR-OLD man was told to “start thinking of (his) daughter” by Magistrate Damien Dwyer, after his third time before the court for public nuisance offences.

Jesse Pel leaves Mackay Magistrates Court holding his daughter. Magistrate Damien Dwyer told him the $1100 fine for public nuisance would have been better spent on the child. Picture: Daily Mercury

A 23-YEAR-OLD man was told to "start thinking of (his) daughter" by Magistrate Damien Dwyer, after his third time before the court for public nuisance offences.

Jesse Pel had his shirt off and was "throwing punches wildly" with another man at the corner of Victoria and Gregory Sts, outside the Tryst nightclub, on July 27, Mackay Magistrates Court heard.

He was also swearing at passers-by during the altercation and continued yelling profanities while police attempted to arrest him.

"He thrashed around and struggled violently while police tried to arrest him," prosecutor Sergeant Rebecca McDonald said.

Pel was charged with committing a public nuisance and obstructing police in the performance of duties. He pleaded guilty in court yesterday.

Mr Dwyer said it was the third time the young man had been before the court for public nuisance and the second time for "obstructing or assaulting police".

"You think I'm going to put up with this sort of behaviour, you've got another thing coming," Mr Dwyer said. "You're getting to a stage where prison will be your only option."

Defence solicitor Chris Schrader said "someone swung" at Pel first, before the altercation began and Pel was heavily intoxicated.

Pel was fined $1100 and banned from entering any licensed premises in the Mackay CBD bounded by River, Peel, Shakespeare and Brisbane Sts until February 18, 2014.

A conviction was recorded. Mr Dwyer said the fine would have been better spent on Pel's daughter.

"Go out and grow up," he said.

Originally published as Magistrate tells man to ‘go out and grow up’