William James Greaves in Maroochydore court for Duporth Tavern police bite

A Sunshine Coast concreter will have to pay hefty compensation after he bit a police officer and drew blood while being arrested at an Ocean St venue. Find out what happened.

A drunk Sunshine Coast concreter who got into a physical scuffle with security and police officers now has to fork out thousands of dollars in compensation.

William James Greaves, 30, was sentenced to nine months’ prison suspended for three years in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on July 1, 2022.

Police prosecutor Phil Stephens said Greaves was at the Duporth Tavern in Maroochydore when he failed to pay for drinks and became aggressive towards staff on April 2, 2022.

Police became involved and Greaves was arrested.

The court heard he resisted and argued, “violently” pulling away from police, swinging his arms and legs around, striking police, security and venue furnishings.

A security guard was struck in the face by Greaves causing immediate pain and discomfort.

He received bruising and cuts and required first aid, the court heard.

A Sunshine Coast concreter will have to pay hefty compensation after he bit a police officer and drew blood during an arrest at an Ocean St venue.

Sergeant Stephens said Greaves suffered cuts to his face as well as a chipped tooth from being on the ground.

While on the ground, Greaves turned his head and bit a police officer on the right calf through his police operational pants, causing pain.

“The skin was observed to be broken and bleeding,” Sergeant Stephens said.

When Greaves was taken back to the watch house he was found to be in possession of cannabis.

The victim police officer suffered psychological impacts as well as the physical impact from being bitten, the court heard.

The court heard the officer was required to quarantine away from his family while waiting disease test results which caused him stress and anxiety.

Defence solicitor Jason Jacobson said his client had moved to the Sunshine Coast in 2017 and recently experienced a series of personal events that had affected his mental health.

Mr Jacobson said the bite of the police officer’s leg by Greaves was “spontaneous”.

“He is a hard working man that has never been in trouble with the law before,” Mr Jacobson said.

Greaves pleaded guilty to stealing, serious assault of a public officer, serious assault of a police officer by biting, possessing dangerous drugs, obstructing police, and being drunk and disorderly in a public place.

Magistrate Rod Madsen recorded convictions against Greaves and ordered him to pay $3000 compensation to the police officer and restitution of $363 for his broken glasses, as well as $200 to the victim security guard.