D’Andre Waia in court after breaking Railway Hotel Yeppoon manager’s nose

The events that led to a Central Queensland hotel patron breaking the venue manager’s nose with a single punch have been revealed along with the attacker’s penalty.

The Railway Hotel Yeppoon and (inset) D’Andre Izziah Jopethai Waia.

A man who broke a Central Queensland hotel manager’s nose with a single punch has been sentenced for the violent assault.

D’Andre Izziah Jopethai Waia, 23, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on Thursday to assault occasioning bodily harm in public while adversely affected, and contravening a police requirement.

The court heard that Waia was at the Railway Hotel Yeppoon on December 20 when, about 11pm, the venue manager asked him to leave due to his level of intoxication and his disorderly behaviour.

“The (venue manager) engaged in conversation with (Waia) and explained that he had to leave the venue,” police prosecutor Corey O’Connor said.

“Without warning (Waia) punched the (manager) to the face with a closed fist.”

Mr O’Connor said the punch broke the manager’s nose and split his lip, and Waia left the hotel on foot.

D’Andre Izziah Jopethai Waia.

The manager was taken to Yeppoon Hospital by Queensland Ambulance Service and Waia was found and arrested.

The court heard that Waia only had one entry on his criminal history from 2022 - a create disturbance in licensed premises offence.

It was told the second charge related to Waia not attending Yeppoon police station as required.

Solicitor Myles Heath said Waia worked at The Real Group and a reference from that organisation was tendered to the court.

Mr Heath said Waia was a father of one with another child “on the way” and he also cared for a stepson.

Mr Heath said the reference from Waia’s employer was “excellent”.

“It does highlight that he’s a good employee, reliable,” Mr Heath said.

Magistrate Lance Rundle noted the reference stated that Waia had “quite a number of skills.”

Railway Hotel, Yeppoon.

In relation to the assault, Mr Heath said Waia was willing to pay compensation to the hotel manager “in the vicinity of $1000” if Mr Rundle thought that was appropriate.

As for the contravening police requirement offence, Mr Heath said Waia was not trying to avoid the situation, he “simply thought that he had complied with what he had to do.”

Mr Heath said if Waia was given a term of imprisonment, even a wholly suspended one, that would come with a conviction being recorded and he made a submission for no conviction.

During sentencing, Magistrate Rundle told Waia “this sort of offence could have resulted in a much greater penalty if that person (venue manager) had fallen to the ground and hit their head... you could end up with a grievous bodily harm (charge) or possibly something further - unlawful striking causing death.”

“If you had come before me today and you had already had any assault on your record - say for example a common assault or another AOBH - I’d be giving you a suspended sentence,” Mr Rundle said.

Mr Rundle placed Waia on 12 months’ probation and ordered he perform 40 hours of unpaid community service.

Waia was also fined $200 and ordered to pay $1000 compensation to the victim.

No convictions were recorded.