Toowoomba crime: 21 big nights out that wound up in Toowoomba court

A big night out on the town can see people finish up with more than just a headache. Here are 21 times a few drinks saw people wind up before a magistrate in Toowoomba.

A night on the town can finish in many different ways, but for these 21 people their drinking sessions saw them wind up before a magistrate.

Here are some of the more shocking nights out that ended in court across Toowoomba in 2021.

Note: No convictions were recorded in any of these matters.

Long arm of the law crushed by drunk in Toowoomba’s CBD

A 21-year-old drunk being sought by police rushed at a police car and slammed the door on the arm of the officer about to arrest him.

CitySafe operators alerted police to Jack Samuel Williamson, who was urinating in the street in Toowoomba’s CBD about 12.15am on May 2.

A foot chase ensured when police arrived, and a short time later a police patrol caught up to him. As an officer was getting out of the car Williamson slammed the vehicle’s door on the officer’s arm before running off.

Williamson pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer, and he was fined $800.

Man can’t remember drunk brawl at wedding that cost him $5000

A 28-year-old man was so drunk at a Wyreema wedding that he had no memory of punching another guest and then causing $3700 damage to the police car he was placed into.

But Owen Keith Somerton accepted the accounts of the events from his wife and other witnesses, pleading guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm in a public place while adversely affected by liquor, committing a public nuisance within licensed premises, obstructing police in a public place while adversely affected, and wilful damage of police property.

Somerton was fined $1250, ordered to do 40 hours community service and pay compensation of $3694 for damage to the police car.

Drunk patron spat in face of bouncer evicting him from bar

A 27-year-old man was fined for spitting in the face of a security officer evicting him from a Toowoomba nightclub.

Benjamin Jason Luke Stokes was being held on the ground outside the Vault on Ruthven when police arrived on the night of April 17.

Police prosecutor Shelby Larcombe told Toowoomba Magistrates Court Stokes had been evicted but refused to go and then spat in the face of the security officer escorting him.

He pleaded guilty to common assault and was fined $650.

One punch on Toowoomba street lands 20-y-o man with probation

A 20-year-old man who knocked out another man with one punch on a Toowoomba CBD street during a night out has been placed on probation.

After a short verbal exchange on Neil St about 2.45am, July 10, Justin David Waldie had punched the other man once to the face.

The victim fell to the ground hitting his head, rendering him unconscious. The court was told the victim was hospitalised with a fractured eye socket, facial swelling and teeth damage.

After pleading guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm, acting magistrate Roger Stark reminded Waldie of the One Punch Can Kill campaign.

“You struck him, he fell and hit his head,” Mr Stark said.

“You could have killed him.”

Noting his lack of criminal history, Mr Stark placed him on 18 months probation.

Man’s expensive night out and he didn’t even get into the nightclub

A young Toowoomba man had an expensive night out clubbing and he didn’t even get into the club.

Zakari Michael Baird had been handed a police banning notice prohibiting him from being within the Safe Night Precinct, but the 20-year-old was found by police trying to enter The Cube Hotel about 9.50pm on August 5 where he was refused entry when his ID was scanned.

Handed a notice to appear in court, Baird pleaded guilty to two counts of contravening a police banning notice when he appeared in court in August.

Baird was fined $600.

Father-to-be caught drunk behind the wheel

A drink driver that blew more than four times the limit after a witness saw him on the wrong side of the road without headlights on was spared a conviction.

Police conducting mobile patrols on Ruthven Street at Harlaxton were flagged down by a motorist about 10.30pm on October 28 this year, Toowoomba Magistrates Court was told.

The witness reported seeing a white ute driving on the wrong side of the road without any headlights on.

A roadside breath test returned a positive reading, and the 39-year-old later blew 0.220, more than four times the legal limit.

In court in December, Darr pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of liquor.

Darr was fined $1800 and disqualified from driving for 10 months.

Toowoomba teenager pays dearly for night out in the city’s CBD

Trying to sneak past a police banning order was becoming too much of a habit for Toowoomba teenager Yol Simon Mayuot Mareng, the city’s Magistrates Court has been told.

For the fourth time this year, the 19-year-old had been caught within the Toowoomba Safe Night Precinct after being handed a police banning notice prohibiting him from being in the CBD at night.

Police were called to the Society Nightclub in Russell St in the city about 11.45pm, July 31, after the teenager had tried to enter the nightclub but was denied entry despite being banned from the Safe Night Precinct from May 31 to August 22.

Mareng pleaded guilty to contravening a police banning notice.

Mareng was fined $800.

Drunk 24yo removes drain grate, woman falls into it and left hurt

A woman’s Halloween night out in Toowoomba CBD turned into a nightmare when she was left covered in scratches and bruises after she fell down a drain thanks to the “foolish” action of Zackery Edward Walter Gesler.

Gesler, 24, appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court in December and pleaded guilty to committing a negligent act causing harm.

The court was told that on a night out on October 31 the 24-year-old was with a group walking along Bell Street when about 12.50am one of them tried to remove a grate covering a drain at Bell and Neil streets.

“A short time later the victim was walking with a group of friends along the Bell Street mall and has indeed fallen into this drain causing injury to herself,” police prosecutor Sergeant Al Windsor said, describing the injuries as scratching and bruises.

Magistrate Kay Ryan said it was “lucky” the injuries weren’t worse, and that it was a “miracle” the victim didn’t suffer a broken bone or fracture.

Gesler was fined $1250

Teen’s costly night out at popular club

A night out in Tropical North Queensland has proved an expensive trip for a Millmerran teenager.

Blair Nicholas Kelly had been out with mates at the Mad Cow Tavern in Flinders St in Townsville’s nightclub precinct late on the night of August 20, Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard.

The hotel’s duty manager later told police he had seen the 19-year-old emerge from the toilets, call to his friends before punching a window, smashing the bottom panel.

Kelly pleaded guilty to one count of wilful damage and was fined $400 as well as ordered to pay compensation of $605.

YouTuber fined $4100 for night out in Toowoomba

A Beaudesert YouTuber who broke Covid-19 lockdown laws by spending a couple of days in Toowoomba has been fined more than $4000 by a Toowoomba magistrate.

Kieran Daniel Price-Moss, who has been involved in a YouTube channel that travels to different regional areas, ignored the directive of Queensland’s Chief Medical Officer to stay home unless for emergency reasons when Beaudesert was ordered into lockdown due to the spread of the Delta variant of Covid-19 in early August.

He was seen by a police patrol trying to get into Tattersalls Hotel without wearing a face mask about 2.30am, August 7 and was issued two infringement notices but police found the 27-year-old outside Society Nightclub just 20 minutes later and was handed another infringement notice.

Far from returning to his Beaudesert home as directed, Price-Moss was found by police called to an unrelated matter at the entrance of the Cube Hotel about 3.25am the next day.

Price-Moss pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a Covid-19 direction by an emergency officer, and two counts of failing to comply with Covid-19 public health direction – CHO and was fined a total $4135.50.

Woman’s night out in Toowoomba turns into $3000 hit to wallet

A night on the town has proved very expensive for a Toowoomba woman left with almost $3000 in fines and court costs.

Kelly Michelle Gillham, 39, had been handed an $800 ticket for causing a public nuisance inside a licensed premises of Fitzy’s late on November 21, last year, Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard.

She was then handed another $800 ticket for a similar charge inside the Cube Hotel that same night.

She had also obstructed police on Margaret St when she was arrested and then again obstructed police at the watch house to where she had been taken post arrest.

Gillham entered written pleas of guilty for four offences and was ultimately fined $2834.40.

Teen tries to steal police iPad during big night on the town

A teenager on a night out on the town landed a date with a magistrate after she attempted to steal an iPad from a police bicycle.

An intoxicated Mia Louise-Anne Prince, 18, was in the Toowoomba CBD when about 12.25am on October 24 she came across officers from Toowoomba police bike squad making an arrest.

Toowoomba Magistrates Court was told while the officers dealt with the unrelated matter Prince attempted to remove a police iPad that was mounted to the handlebars of one of the bikes.

Prince pleaded guilty to attempted stealing and was placed on a $400 good behaviour bond for four months

Gym staff grabbed by heavily intoxicated man during ‘disgusting’ ordeal

Just days after he was officially declared bankrupt, a Toowoomba man had to be restrained by staff at a gym after he drunkenly tried to grab two women while they worked out.

Daniel Peter Freund appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to being drunk in a public place, causing an unreasonable annoyance, commit public nuisance and obstructing a police officer.

The court was told that at 3.45pm on August 29 this year police were called to a gym on Foundry Street, Toowoomba after the 38-year-old walked in and grabbed at a woman.

The court was told about a week earlier on August 18 police had been called to a brothel in Harlaxton about 8.45pm where Freund had been refused entry.

Freund was sentenced to 12 months probation, as well as 48 hours community service.

Mum driving with baby in the car was 3x the limit when pulled over

A young mother who blew 0.145 after a two-day bender and then had her infant child in the car has been spared a conviction.

Gracey May Brimble, 21, faced Toowoomba Magistrates Court in September where she pleaded guilty to mid-range drink driving and obstructing a police officer.

Gracey May Brimble was spared a conviction after she was caught behind the wheel three times the legal limit with her toddler in the back seat.

The court was told Brimble came to the attention of police about 12.15pm on September 10 this year after she narrowly avoided colliding with a marked police vehicle in Toowoomba.

After being told to get out of the vehicle, police attempted to search Brimble, who then became aggressive, telling police “I’ll fight you”.

Brimble was fined $750 and disqualified from driving for four months.

Drink driver claimed ‘roo caused car crash on Toowoomba street

A driver who claimed he crashed his car on a Toowoomba street while trying avoid a kangaroo blew a breath/alcohol reading almost four times the legal limit.

Terrence Graham Bermingham crashed his Ford Ranger on Taylor Street, Newtown, about 11.50pm, May 2, Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard.

Asked what had happened, the 32-year-old told police he had been drink driving and had swerved to avoid a kangaroo.

Bermingham blew a breath/alcohol reading of 0.184 and pleaded guilty to driving while under the influence of liquor and not having proper control of a vehicle.

Magistrate Graham Lee fined him $1700 and disqualified him from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for nine months.

Playing the pokies lands Toowoomba woman in the pokey

Gambling addiction led to a Toowoomba woman spending much of the Easter long weekend in the city’s watch house.

As part of her bail conditions, Nikeasha Lea Holland was not to be away from her Newtown home between 7pm and 7am each night, Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard.

However, when police checked on her about 11pm, Saturday, she was not at home but was found playing the pokies at the Gowrie Road Hotel. When processed at the watch house, the 24-year-old was found to have two credit cards which she said she’d found on James St and had intended handing into police the next day.

She pleaded guilty to possessing tainted property and breaching bail, and was fined $400.

Man who exposed penis to police told to address his drunkenness

A drunken man who exposed his penis when arrested by police has been told by a Toowoomba magistrate to address his alcohol consumption.

Ajak Deng Biar had a history of public drunkenness, and on January 7 about 6pm a police patrol had been flagged down by a member of the public pointing to Biar who was slumped against a wall on Prescott St.

As police conducted a patdown search of him, the 48-year-old had pulled down his pants and took his penis out.

Biar was fined $750.

Expensive night out for 24-y-o man on the drink in Toowoomba

A night out in Toowoomba turned ugly, painful and expensive for a 24-year-old Toowoomba man.

Trey James Fernando was so drunk that he couldn’t remember how he managed to smash the 2.57m x 1m front glass window of APM Employment in Margaret Street on the night of January 9.

However, he had cut his leg so seriously in the process that he had to be taken to hospital where the wound was stitched.

Fernando pleaded guilty to one charge of wilful damage, and was fined $400, as well as issued a restitution order of $3725.

$50 punt on the pokies costs player $1200 in fines

Frustration arising from a dispute over a poker machine made for an expensive night out at the pub for a Toowoomba man.

Dylan Roger Angus Cuthel had sat down at a machine in the pokie room of the Wilsonton Hotel about 5pm, November 14, Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard.

Two spins in and he contacted staff complaining he had put $50 in the machine which had swallowed his cash after just two spins.

The staff assured him he had only placed a $5 note into the machine, prompting him to become even more angry and swear at staff who told him to leave.

The angry 31-year-old had exited the room, pushing the glass door so forcefully that the glass smashed.

Cuthel pleaded guilty to charges of wilful damage and being drunk or disorderly on licensed premises and was fined $600, as well as ordered to pay restitution of $600.

Arguing with bouncers, cops makes for an expensive night out

Getting drunk and arguing with nightclub security staff and police only made for a far more expensive night out for a 21-year-old Toowoomba man.

Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard police had been called to the Vault on Ruthven in the early hours of November 21 by security staff who reported an argumentative patron who had been refused entry to the nightclub.

Police arrived to find an agitated Thomas Brian Haynes who immediately became argumentative with the police officers.

Haynes pleaded guilty to possessing an instrument of graffiti, possessing a dangerous drug and a drug utensil, and was fined $600.

Man struck with bar stool during altercation at Toowoomba pub

As if watching a John Wayne western, Toowoomba police viewing a pub’s CCTV camera footage saw a man pick up a bar stool and smash it against another man in the bar.

Police were called to a disturbance at the Wilsonton Hotel about in January where witnesses said a man had assaulted another man in the pokie room.

Police viewed the hotel’s CCTV footage which clearly showed 40-year-old Michael Troy Garland pick up a bar stool and smash it against the other man seated in the room.

Garland, who represented himself, pleaded guilty to a charge of committing a public nuisance within a licensed premises but offered no reason for his behaviour, and he was fined $1500.

Originally published as Toowoomba crime: 21 big nights out that wound up in Toowoomba court