Toowoomba truck driver Gavin Jansen in court for pub assault

A business owner has fronted court over a brouhaha at a Toowoomba pub where he assaulted multiple staff members, after he refused to leave money behind in a pokies machine.

Truckie Gavin Stuart Jansen leaving the Toowoomba courthouse in May 2025 after pleading guilty to assaulting staff at a Glenvale pub.

A self-employed truck driver fronted Toowoomba Magistrates Court for assault after he kicked off at Club Glenvale in late 2024.

The court was told a drunk Gavin Stuart Jansen, 54, punched, slapped, and pushed a number of staff members after he was asked to leave the licensed venue, which he refused to do because he had money in a pokie machine.

Police prosecutor Rowan Brewster-Webb said even though Jansen had no criminal history, the level of violence used against employees who were just trying to do their jobs, a probation order was within range.

He said Jansen seemed to have an issue with alcohol, noting he had been charged with drunken disorderly conduct in the past.

Acting duty lawyer Matt Gemmell said the self-employed logistics business owner was struggling to cope with a number of traumas when the offending occurred, and he had gone to the pub to blow off steam with friends.

One of which was a random and serious assault that occurred when Jansen was visiting his father, who was in palliative care.

Truckie Gavin Stuart Jansen leaving the Toowoomba courthouse in May 2025 after pleading guilty to assaulting staff at a Glenvale pub.

Mr Gemmell said the altercation came about after a patron complained about the group of men being too loud.

“It’s disproportionate force nonetheless, but my client tells me he was actually physically grabbed by the manager whilst in the pokies and asked to leave the venue,” he said.

“(He) refused to leave because he still had money in the pokies machine.

“He tells me he also felt some fear in relation to a physical altercation occurring.”

Jansen told Mr Gemmell he didn’t remember anything after he’d allegedly been grabbed.

Magistrate Kyna Morice said it was somewhat convenient that Jansen remembers “what assists him and doesn’t remember what doesn’t”.

Mr Gemmell said Jansen didn’t deny the assaults, and rather than avoiding the issue, he went to his GP to get to the bottom of why he reacted the way he did.

“He has (also) suffered loss of income, it does cost him money to take time off work,” he said.

Mr Gemmell submitted for no conviction to be recorded and the minimum community service order, which would be 120 hours for Jansen’s two counts of assault in public while intoxicated.

However, Mr Brewster-Webb submitted that a further penalty should be imposed on top of the mandatory community service order, given the significant level of violence involved in the assault, and to help Jansen address any underlying issues.

Ms Morice said it would be more beneficial for Jansen to give back to the community through a community service order, noting Jansen was already taking steps the address his mental health.

“I accept… the significant factors which have occurred in your life over the last 12 months, undoubtedly that would have had an impact on you,” she said.

“(However), that never gives you the right to go to someone else’s workplace and assault them.

“The mere fact that you had money in your pokie machine doesn’t mean that you get to punch on with anybody in that business to try and retain those funds, because they have obligations under the Liquor Act.

“They cannot keep you there and they cannot serve you, and (it’s) your responsibility to make sure you don’t get to that state.”

Ms Morice commended him for the steps he took on his own volition to address his mental health, and said she hoped that would keep him from committing further offences.

Jansen pleaded guilty to two charges of assault in public while intoxicated and public nuisance in a licensed venue, and was sentenced to a 120-hour community service order, which he is to complete in the next 12 months.

No conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Toowoomba truck driver Gavin Jansen in court for pub assault