Toowoomba mine operator kicks-off at man for being topless
A Toowoomba man has pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman on the streets of Townsville, during a drunken reunion with his rugby mates.
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A court heard a usually upstanding member of the community hit a woman who was standing between the drunk mine operator and her shirtless boyfriend.
On Wednesday, March 13, Toowoomba Magistrates Court was told Dennis Jason Dempsey was staying in Townsville for a school and rugby reunion when the incident occurred.
Police were patrolling the CBD at 3am, on February 17, when they noticed a disturbance at a food establishment.
Police prosecutor Jessica Lynch told the court a drunk Dempsey had taken offence to a shirtless man who was eating with his partner and became aggressive when he refused to put his top back on.
She said Dempsey walked away after striking the woman, who fell back into her partner.
During the 47-year-old’s subsequent arrest, Ms Lynch said Dempsey dropped his weight on an officer during a search, and refused to get in the police car.
“I don’t have to stand up for you c-nts,” he said after dropping his weight.
“You charged me – you put me in the car.”
Solicitor Nikola Prince said the father of two, who did not usually drink, had been drinking since 12pm that afternoon and approached the man because his nudity was disrespectful to his culture.
She noted he struck the woman with an open palm and no injuries were caused.
Magistrate Mark Howden said Dempsey had a limited criminal history, however he was fined $250 in 2020 for assaulting a police officer.
Despite that entry, Mr Howden said Dempsey’s actions in February seemed out of character, noting he was usually a hardworking and law abiding member of the community.
Mr Howden ordered Dempsey to complete 50 hours of community service within 12 months and told him he hoped to never see him before a court again.
No conviction was recorded.
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Originally published as Toowoomba mine operator kicks-off at man for being topless
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