Ross James Brackley in court over Airlie Beach Hotel assault
A simple instruction at a Whitsunday pub enraged a 55-year-old man to the point he left a staff member bleeding from the mouth.
Police & Courts
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A 55-year-old mining consultant has had a “wake-up call” about acting his age after a drunken assault on an Airlie Beach pub worker.
Ross James Brackley struck a 43-year-old Airlie Beach Hotel venue manager in the mouth and called him a “c--t” after being refused service on August 13 because of his level of intoxication.
Proserpine Magistrates Court heard the victim told Brackley to drink some water when he tried to order an alcoholic beverage about 10pm, to which Brackley responded he already had and held up a plastic Mount Franklin bottle.
When the victim told Brackley he needed to be seen drinking the water, Brackley used the bottle to strike the man, and then had to be restrained on the ground until police arrived.
The court heard the victim was left bleeding from a cut on the inside of his mouth.
Brackley pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm while armed in a public place while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance.
Defence barrister David Cole said Brackley was with his wife at the time of the assault and the couple had spent that day preparing to celebrate a friend’s 50th birthday party.
He said the combination of little food throughout the day and a large amount of alcohol between the hours of 6.30pm and 9.30pm resulted in behaviour that “mortified” Brackley when he saw it on a CCTV recording.
Mr Cole said the incident came as a “shock” and a “wake-up call” to his client and that Brackley had since engaged with counsellors and paid the victim $1000 compensation.
Magistrate James Morton said there was no excuse for a man of Brackley’s age to behave in such a manner, telling him he “ought to know better”.
“When you’re told you’ve had enough to drink, that’s the end of it – sit down and act your age instead of acting like a child.
“You’re past that, aren’t you?”
The sentence was a $400 fine and a 12-month ban from the Airlie Beach Hotel, plus 40 hours of unpaid community service to be completed within 12 months.
No convictions were recorded.
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