Youth worker Wyatt Watson pleads guilty to public nuisance, obstructing police

A Northern Territory youth worker has been told he was ‘behaving like a teenager’ after he was involved in a fight outside a bar before having a meltdown with police during his arrest.

Wyatt George Elvis Watson leaving Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Friday. Picture: Sam Turner

A Northern Territory youth worker has been told he behaved like a “teenager” when he got into a fight at a Sunshine Coast bar before throwing a protracted tantrum with police.

Maroochydore Magistrates Court was told on Friday how Wyatt George Elvis Watson’s boozy night at Mooloolaba on October 1 ended in a visit to the watch-house following his arrest.

Prosecutor James Allen said police were conducting patrols about 10.40pm when they were waved down by Taps Mooloolaba staff who said the Glenview man had been involved in a fight with another patron at the venue.

The staff member told police Watson was on the footpath when he pushed and shoved another man before a fight erupted.

Mr Allen said officers found Watson outside the venue and tried to speak to him, which was unsuccessful.

The court heard police grabbed the 28-year-old’s arm so they could chat to him however he became hostile and abusive.

Watson was arrested however he decided to drop to the ground and refused to move. He was calm for a moment until he kicked about and called police “c---s” and “r-----s”.

The 28-year-old was stood up and walked to the vehicle when he kicked up his feet twice to prevent them lodging him in the car.

Mr Allen said police were forced to “manhandle” Watson into the vehicle due his behaviour and he was taken to the Maroochydore watch-house.

Watson pleaded guilty to two charges.

While he was there he continued to refuse police directions.

The prosecutor said CCTV from Taps Mooloolaba confirmed Watson was involved in a fight at the venue after he was told to leave.

He was charged and pleaded guilty in court on Friday to public nuisance and obstructing police.

Duty lawyer Jaimee Burns said Watson, who worked as a youth worker at the top end, would permanently move there to get away from negative influences on the Sunshine Coast.

Ms Burns clarified Watson was not charged with assault, and had shown insight into the need for rehabilitation.

After combing through the Glenview man’s criminal history, acting magistrate Raelene Ellis believed fines were not acting as a deterrent for the 28-year-old.

Ms Ellis then read out several offences Watson had been sentenced for on his criminal history, which included convictions for dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and possessing a knife, with no convictions recorded on five other occasions for different offences.

“You’re no longer a young man and you’re still behaving like a teenager, the way you’re carrying on when you get some alcohol into you is just not on,” Ms Ellis told Watson.

“The community are sick and tired of people going around behaving in this matter under the influence of alcohol.

“One may wonder whether you’re an appropriate person to be working with children given the nature of the offending that you’re engaging in.”

The magistrate fined him $1500 and recorded a conviction against him.