Party goers turned pests before Sunshine Coast courts for Ocean St, Hastings St incidents
These are the boozy party goers who have ended their nights out at the Sunshine Coast’s nightlife precincts with a trip to the watch house.
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It’s not unusual to see a rowdy crowd during a night out at the Sunshine Coast’s nightlife precincts, with several punters waking up in the watch house the next day.
From a vicious stabbing and unprovoked attacks down to a teen launching spit into an officer’s eyes and mouth, these are the partygoers who faced court after a boozy night out.
Convictions recorded
Nathan John Redman
Nathan John Redman, 40, was out for a work party in the early hours of February 11 in the Maroochydore Safe Night Precinct when he crossed paths with two punters about 1.50am.
Police prosecutor Tara Miles said Redman was trying to start a fight with the men while others walked across the road to avoid his behaviour.
Maroochydore Magistrates Court on August 12 heard the 40-year-old was swearing at the men, saying “come on you n----r c---” and “n----rs”.
Officers on Ocean St asked Redman to stop his behaviour and he struggled with police and struck at their vehicle before he was ultimately arrested and taken to the watch house.
He was charged with public nuisance, which he pleaded guilty to in court.
Defence lawyer Alex Collins said he was instructed by Redman he was “too old for this” and was apologetic.
Mr Collins said his outburst on the street was due to the two men elbowing one of the women the roofer was with in the line.
The lawyer said the 40-year-old called them out for it, however the pair then flashed a knife at Redman, which is why he started yelling at them for a fight without the weapon.
Redman was fined $800 with a conviction recorded.
Mitchell Kyle Johnston
A Marcoola security guard was jailed for a “cowardly” attack with knuckle dusters on an unsuspecting punter in a Maroochydore nightclub.
Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist quizzed in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on August 6 how Mitchell Kyle Johnston, 26, was able to smuggle the weapon into the Parental Guidance nightclub on Ocean St on March 9.
Johnston pleaded guilty in court to assault while armed, unlawful possession of weapons and two counts of possessing s4 or s8 medicines.
The court heard the victim was speaking to another punter at the nightclub when Johnston approached from behind and punched him to the side of the head with knuckle dusters equipped, then delivered another slug to the man’s face.
Police prosecutor Jeanette Grigoris said the victim suffered stitches to his nose which left scars and was forced to take a week off work.
She said the attack was aggravated as Johnston worked as a security officer on Ocean St until his accreditation was suspended.
Defence lawyer Belinda Robinson said the Marcoola man had a difficult upbringing after a bout of salmonella affected his cognitive abilities and speech delay.
She said Johnston was being “protective” for his friend who was speaking to the victim and misread the situation.
Johnston was jailed for 18 months, with a parole release date set at November 1.
Jyrah James Dittman
A Sunshine Coast roofer avoided being sent to jail after his violent one punch attack caused his victim to eat pureed food for two months.
Jyrah James Dittman’s supporters breathed a sigh of relief in the Maroochydore District Court on April 29 after they were told he would serve no time in custody for the attack which left his victim with a broken jaw.
The court heard Dittman was drinking at Ocean St on March 5 last year when there was a verbal altercation between his group and another.
Crown prosecutor Alex Stark said CCTV captured the moment the victim pointed at something before Dittman punched him in the jaw with his right fist.
Defence barrister Lachlan Ygoa-McKeown said Dittman rarely drinks and was out for a friend’s birthday on the night of the attack.
Dittman has since found permanent work as a roofer and showed remorse for his actions in a letter of apology to the court.
He pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm and was jailed for two years, but it was suspended immediately for three years.
Dittman was also ordered to pay $5000 compensation to the victim.
Steven Robert Loadsman
Steven Robert Loadsman represented himself in the Noosa Magistrates Court on April 23, where he pleaded guilty to public nuisance and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
The court was told Loadsman had been drinking at the Noosa Surf Club on March 7 when police were called at 11.15pm to reports of a man causing a disturbance.
Police prosecutor David Hoffmann said a staff member told police Loadsman had verbally abused him and smashed a pot plant before walking down Hastings St, kicking over wheelie bins and scattering rubbish.
Senior Sergeant Hoffmann said Loadsman was then seen getting behind the wheel of a Toyota Prado LandCruiser, which police saw driving erratically on Noosa Dr.
“Police were (then) flagged down by members of the public who stated the vehicle had just driven over the middle of the roundabout,” Senior Sergeant Hoffmann said.
During patrols, police discovered a damaged road sign, a broken pot plant and rubbish all over the road.
Loadsman told the court he lost his job at Suncoast Motors as a car salesman over the incident, but was rehired three days later after he demonstrated commitment to bettering his life.
He told the court he was working through what he thought was a drug addiction at the time, but soon realised he had a bigger issue with drinking.
Loadsman was fined $1200 over the incident. Convictions were recorded.
Layla Janice Lee Kelk
Cooroy woman Layla Janice Lee Kelk appeared in Maroochydore Magistrates Court for Murri Court on April 18 and pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm in public whilst affected by alcohol, assault occasioning bodily harm, committing a public nuisance offence and breaching bail.
Magistrate Chris Callaghan told the court on January 15, 2023 Kelk approached and yelled at a 50-year-old woman for an unknown reason outside a Hastings St establishment.
She ran towards the victim and punched her in the face, causing her to fall and break her arm, then punched and kicked her on the ground, leaving her with abrasions, a fractured arm and a bruised hip, the court heard.
A second assault related to a 19-year-old security guard who was “stomped on” by Kelk outside the Aqua Lounge and Nightclub – formerly the Rolling Rock – on Hastings St on August 27, 2023.
Defence lawyer Rod Morgan said his client expressed remorse early on and sent apology letters to the victims, and has actively engaged in seeking services to make necessary changes in her life.
She was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment wholly suspended for 12 months and to 40 hours of community service.
She was also banned from any establishments which sell liquor for 12 months and she was ordered to pay a total of $2000 compensation to the victims.
Riley Filip Cantarella
Riley Filip Cantarella was only a few months on from his 18th birthday when he shattered a 20-year-old man’s jaw at Maroochydore’s Safe Night Precinct on October 15, 2022.
Crown prosecutor Rhys Byrne told Maroochydore District Court on April 2 the victim “felt a crack in his mouth” and was bleeding in the seconds following the strike.
The court heard Cantarella was drunk about 2am when the victim and a female friend walked past and exchanged words due to the victim thinking Cantarella made a derogatory comment towards his friend.
In CCTV shown to the court, the victim walked towards Cantarella and asked what he said when Cantarella punched the 20-year-old in the jaw.
He suffered a number of facial injuries with the most serious being displaced fractures to his jaw. The victim underwent surgery days later where one of his teeth was removed.
Defence barrister Nathan Turner said the apprentice chippy was drinking excessively at the time and was going through personal issues in the lead up to the attack.
Cantarella pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm in a public place while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance and was jailed for 18 months.
This was suspended immediately for 18 months.
He was also ordered to pay $5000 to the victim and perform 60 hours community service.
Joseph James Mackenzie
Noticeable sighs of relief were heard in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on March 19 by supporters of Joseph James Mackenzie after he was given a suspended sentence for his gross act on a police officer on September 9, 2023.
Police prosecutor Brendan Newman told the court the officer felt “disgusted and violated” when the teenager spat at him, which went “everywhere” including his eyes and mouth, with most of it landing on his cheek.
The court was told the officer underwent a disease test which meant his home life had to change until his results came back.
Sergeant Newman said the Clontarf teenager was “misbehaving” in the safe night precinct in Maroochydore and accepted it was an “isolated” incident.
Defence lawyer Rose Killip said the offending was “out of character” for the teenager who had feelings of “guilt and shame”.
The court heard Mackenzie looked into assistance for alcohol rehabilitation and counselling. He also wrote a letter of apology to the officer.
The Clontarf man was sentenced to eight months’ jail, suspended for 24 months. He must also pay $1000 compensation to the officer.
Mackenzie pleaded guilty to charges of serious assaulting police and public nuisance.
Zachary James Howson
Zachary James Howson was supported by several people in the public gallery on December 4, 2023 as the Maroochydore District Court heard details of an attack at a Hastings St bar on September 5, 2021.
Crown prosecutor Nicola Hamilton said Howson had opened a door with such force it that hit the wall behind, causing a 22-year-old man, unknown to Howson, to slap him on the bottom and say words to calm him down.
Howson reacted by kicking out sideways towards the man before the man shoved him in the shoulder.
Howson then swung punches at the man while holding a cup in each hand, before he picked him up and body slammed him into the ground, knocking the man unconscious.
Howson called triple-0 before he left the scene and handed himself into police two days later.
Ms Hamilton told the court the victim suffered a fractured skull, a ruptured eardrum and ruptured ligament near his collarbone.
Barrister Nathan Turner said his client’s actions were not a premeditated attack and he had remained offence free since his arrest, calling him a “family man”.
Howson had previously pleaded guilty to one charge of grievous bodily harm.
He was sentenced to two and a half years behind bars, but was released on parole after four months in April, 2024.
A conviction was recorded.
No convictions recorded
Alif Ninsiri
Alif Ninsiri pleaded guilty in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on February 16 to disorderly behaviour in a licenced premises and obstruct police.
The court was told Ninsiri was at the Post Office Bar in Ocean St at 12.30am on January 28 when he attempted to fight the venue manager and was subsequently kicked out.
Police prosecutor Mark Burrell said he was seen loitering outside and refused to move on when spoken to by police who ultimately arrested him.
Duty lawyer Cherisse Breese said her client was “very remorseful” for his actions and had no previous criminal history.
She said Ninsiri was a labourer for a builder, but had not been working recently due to a back injury.
Ninsiri was ordered into a $750 good behaviour bond for six months and no conviction was recorded.
Bailey J Kenny
Bailey J Kenny admitted in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on June 24 he couldn’t remember the night at all after drinking for eight straight hours on June 1.
The Buderim man, who pleaded guilty to public nuisance, was seen along the infamous Ocean St party strip near the Post Office Bar about 2.30am by officers.
Police prosecutor Tara Miles said officers suggested Kenny should go home but a short time later they were called to a disturbance outside Sol Bar where they saw Kenny in a loud verbal argument with other punters.
The court heard Kenny was trying to provoke another man to fight him while pushing and grabbing him. Police took the 22-year-old to the Uber rank near the Big Top Shopping Centre after he was arrested and told him to leave the area.
Not long after this encounter, police were called back to the rank about 3.20am where Kenny was seen shouting obscene language, punching vehicles as they drove past and threatening to fight more people.
Kenny told acting magistrate Anna Smith he used to work as a concreter and hoped to start his own fishing trawler. He said he hadn’t drunk in the six months leading to his June 1 bender.
He was fined $500 with no conviction recorded.
Sakaraia Sau Tiko
A Fijian rugby player faced court for an “Ocean St classic” where he drunkenly tried to run from police after being told to leave the busy party precinct.
Police prosecutor Tara Miles told Maroochydore Magistrates Court in July patrolling police approached Sakaraia Sau Tiko, 29, on Ocean St about 11pm after security guards reported him trying to start fights with other punters.
The court heard Tiko was given a move on direction by police to leave the Maroochydore Safe Night Precinct twice that night and was arrested when he was located outside a club a third time.
During his walk to the police van, Tiko threw one of the officers to the ground and attempted to flee, the court heard.
Senior Constable Miles said Tiko brushed a second tackle and then pushed a second officer to the ground after his initial line break.
The police prosecutor said a third officer standing behind Tiko was then able to grab the 29-year-old and he was ultimately handcuffed.
Defence lawyer Michael Robinson said Tiko had been in Australia for the past 14 months on a working visa as a Fijian national and was employed as a landscaper.
The solicitor said he was also playing rugby union for “Brothers Football Club” which sponsored his home in the Caloundra area.
Tiko pleaded guilty to obstructing police and contravening a direction.
He was fined $600 and ordered to 40 hours’ community service with no conviction recorded.
Manu Matangi Faiva
Manu Matangi Faiva pleaded guilty in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on June 24 to one count of committing a public nuisance offence.
Police prosecutor Michael Quirk told the court Faiva had been involved in a fight in a carpark near Old Soul bar on Ocean St on June 9 about 2.30am.
Police officers approached Faiva who was not wearing a shirt and was “very agitated,” Mr Quirk told the court.
Faiva, who was in company of two other people, tried to follow the other man to “continue the fight” despite his companions and police attempting to talk him out of it.
“I can’t stop him, he gets like this when he’s drunk,” one of Faiva’s companions had told police.
Mr Quirk said police had attempted to arrest Faiva who physically resisted before police managed to restrain him.
Duty lawyer Cherisse Breese said the 19-year-old had “learned his lesson” on his alcohol limit after the incident.
She told the court Faiva currently works as a solar panel installer and is completing courses to pursue his goal of working in the mines.
Faiva was fined $500 and a conviction was not recorded.
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