Public nuisance, wilful damage: Warwick’s drunk and disorderly offenders exposed
From a young dad who hurled abuse at cops to a man who followed and harassed a group of pubgoers, these are the Warwick residents sentenced for boozed-up crimes.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
From wild abuse hurled at police officers to a man who followed and harassed a group of young pubgoers, these are the Warwick residents sentenced for drunk and disorderly offences recently.
A big night out turned into a court date for Alex James Lucas Freeman when he launched an abusive outburst at nearby police.
Warwick Magistrates Court heard the 22-year-old was out with friends at about 12.30am on September 12 when he received a call from his partner saying people were trying to break into their home.
Freeman reported the incident and officers went to the couple’s Palmerin Street house, but soon left again after finding the scene was safe.
Police prosecutor Steve de Lissa said Freeman was walking near Wallace Street when he ran across officers and began abusing them, referring to them as “dog c —ts” and shouting “f —king big c —ts, why don’t you get to my house and do your f —king jobs”.
The Warwick man appeared in court with a clean criminal history.
Duty lawyer Phillip Crook said his client’s actions were driven by obvious concern for his wife and their newborn baby, along with the large amount of alcohol he’d consumed that night.
Mr Crook contended Freeman found at least one fence pailing damaged, which indicated someone had been kicking the fence that night.
Freeman pleaded guilty to one count of public nuisance.
He was fined $350 and no conviction was recorded.
Shane Anthony White fronted court after a night out at a popular Warwick pub turned violent.
The Warwick man was with his friends at The Criterion Hotel on Palmerin Street at about 7.30pm on July 23 when he and a couple of his mates were asked by staff to leave.
Police prosecutor Steve de Lissa said the group left through the back entrance and walked around to the front, where White tapped a window to get the attention of one of his friends still inside.
Sergeant de Lissa said the other man put his ear down to the window, at which point White punched the window and shattered it, leaving the other man with cuts to his face.
The Warwick court was told White had paid $1332 in damages to the hotel before appearing.
Duty lawyer Phillip Crook said White acknowledged he was foolish and “very, very drunk” the night of his offending, and should be commended for paying restitution and going to the police station of his own accord.
He added the Warwick man had taken part in and gone on to become a supervisor of a rehabilitation program.
Magistrate Julian Noud told White he was fortunate to have avoided what could have been a “very ugly scene” caused by “deplorable behaviour”, but credited his progress in getting his life back on track.
White pleaded guilty to one count of wilful damage and was fined $450.
Jacob Samuel Bygroves landed in hot water after being turned away from a pub on a wild night out sparked a violent rage.
The 32-year-old’s troubles began when he was refused entry to the Warwick Hotel at about 11pm on September 18.
Warwick Magistrates Court was told Bygroves walked away and began following a group of young adults along Palmerin Street and into Albert Street past Leslie Park.
Police prosecutor Steve de Lissa said the Warwick man was harassing and threatening the group, who repeatedly asked him to leave them alone.
Bygroves then returned to the Warwick Hotel and resumed arguing with on-door staff and making threats before police were eventually called to the scene and arrested him.
Sergeant de Lissa said Bygroves continued to resist police when he was taken to the watch-house, refusing to take off his shoes and belt to the point they had to be forcibly removed.
Duty lawyer Phillip Crook told the court the Warwick man was going to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings twice a week, but found it difficult to abstain entirely.
Magistrate Julian Noud slammed Bygroves for making “a real pest of himself” in what would have likely been a scary event for the innocent bystanders involved.
He also acknowledged the Warwick man’s rehabilitation efforts and encouraged him to stick with it.
Bygroves pleaded guilty to one count each of obstructing police and public nuisance. He was fined $750.
Regional climate producing more than fresh produce: Court
The Granite Belt region’s cool climate can grow more than fruit and vegetables, with Stanthorpe Magistrates Court told that police caught two men producing cannabis at their homes. DETAILS.
B-double carrying frozen produce rolls on southwest Qld highway
Queensland police are continuing investigations into what caused a B-double to roll over while travelling on a southwest Queensland highway. Here’s what we know.