10 Queensland defendants in court for attacking or robbing hospitality, retail staff
From drunken attacks on bar staff to hold ups and even a bizarre slap across a waiter’s head, these 10 Queenslanders faced court for running riot in restaurants, clubs and shops. FULL LIST
Logan
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From drunken attacks on bar staff to belligerent brawls with security and even bizarre slaps across the head of waiters, these 10 Queenslanders faced court for attacking or robbing hospitality or retail employees on the job.
In June last year, Sergeant Phillip Stephens told a Sunshine Coast court that people in their workplace deserve to be able to do their jobs in peace.
“People who are in their workplace should not be subjected to outbursts and physical assaults,” he said.
“These incidents are unacceptable.”
Here we look at 10 examples across Queensland where hospitality or retail staff were attacked or held up while on the job.
Conviction Recorded:
Brodie Lain Wilson
A Murgon timber cutter narrowly avoided jail time after a night out at the Wondai Hotel turned ugly, with a bartender left with a broken nose and officers spattered in blood.
Brodie Lain Wilson, 26, and his partner were having drinks at the bar when Wilson was approached by another man he’d previously “had words with”.
The 26-year-old was kicked out of the pub and as the owner attempted to close the door on him, Wilson extended his arm through the door and punched him in the face.
The court was told police attended and spoke for 20 minutes to Wilson, who flicked blood onto their faces and clothes as he flailed his arms around recounting the night’s events.
Wilson pleaded guilty to two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm, serious assault of a police officer and wilful damage.
He was sentenced to 12 months’ jail but released on immediate parole and he was also ordered to complete 160 hours of community service.
Jaiden William Mackey
An Ormeau Hills man who robbed a McDonald’s and attacked two men during a night of violent crime apologised and hugged the restaurant’s manager after stealing $300 cash only seconds before.
Jaiden William Mackey, 21, pleaded guilty in Beenleigh District Court on October 6, 2022 to two counts of robbery with actual violence and one count of robbery.
The court heard that Mackey, while drunk and high on anxiety medication Xanax, confronted a 58-year-old man outside a convenience store in Bethania and demanded his watch.
He then kicked him in the ribs and continued to kick him on the ground. Later that night Mackey robbed a McDonald’s manager and hugged him apologetically before leaving.
Mackey was sentenced to three years‘ jail, with immediate parole release after 230 days he spent in pre-sentence custody was taken into account.
Emery Johnstone
A pregnant Beenleigh woman who robbed a Loganholme servo with a pair of scissors for a soft drink and pack of cigarettes, said her meth use was to blame.
Emery Johnstone, 26, pleaded guilty in Beenleigh District Court to one count of armed robbery with dangerous violence and possession and supply of drugs for charges separate to the robbery.
The court heard Johnstone grabbed two drinks out of a Freedom Fuels petrol station fridge, placed them on the counter then said “this is a robbery”.
She then pulled out of a pair scissors and demanded a pair of cigarettes from the staff member.
Johnstone received a suspended two and a half year prison sentence and a year long probation order by Judge Craig Chowdhury.
Liam Brighton Sing
A 24-year-old who robbed the Gympie McDonald’s before bashing a police officer and breaking his nose, will spend the next 11 months in jail.
Just after 10.30pm on August 16, 2020, Liam Brighton Sing walked into McDonald’s opposite Gympie Central Shopping Centre dressed in a hoodie, surgical mask and gloves.
He stole $2000 but several staff recognised him and Sing then assaulted a police officer violently, breaking his nose and giving him a concussion.
Sing pleaded guilty to armed robbery and grievous bodily harm and received a five and a half year jail sentence.
He was already on probation for previous offending.
Dylan Samuel Condrit
A “drug-addled” construction worker caused chaos at a southeast Queensland service station when, pretending to be a cop, he tried to carjack two vehicles before he yanked a Domino’s delivery driver out of his car, only to spectacularly crash.
Appearing at Beenleigh District Court Dylan Samuel Condrit, 26, of Underwood pleaded guilty to a string of charges for the August 7, 2021 attack.
They included dangerous operation of a vehicle, robbery, unlawful use of a vehicle, unlawful entry of a vehicle for committing an indictable offence or threatening violence, and two attempted counts of the latter charge.
The court heard Condrit pretended to be a police officer and punched a man, before throwing a beer bottle at him during a verbally abusive tirade.
Condrit was sentenced to three years in prison and disqualified from driving for 12 months.
Ronald William Charles Binge
A Moreton Bay man has landed in court for being the getaway driver in a ‘terrifying’ liquor store robbery where a female staffer allegedly faced off with a man with an axe.
Bray Park man Ronald William Charles Binge, 23, pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court to robbery armed/ in company and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
The court heard Binge, who’s a former bricklayer, was the getaway driver in an alleged armed robbery of a BWS liquor store in Chermside on September 15, 2021.
Binge waited outside the store in a stolen car while his co-accused stole $277 in cash from the bottle shop and fled in Binge’s vehicle
He was sentenced to three years prison.
Jai Darnett
A young woman who was working behind the cash register of a Palmwoods, Sunshine Coast convenience store when she was robbed at knifepoint has faced the man who forced her to hand over cash and cigarettes.
Jai Darnett, 24, pleaded guilty in Maroochydore District Court on August 18, 2022, to armed robbery, five counts of supplying a dangerous drug and possessing a mobile phone used for a criminal offence.
The court heard Darnett went to the shop counter and demanded the 20-year-old female cashier give him money and cigarettes, while holding a knife.
He then drove off in his car and police later intercepted him at his home address and charged him.
Darnett was sentenced to three years prison and given a parole eligibility date of May 18, 2023.
No Conviction Recorded:
Satellite Tuifao
The daughter of a Christian minister violently dragged a female bartender by the ponytail for several metres and assaulted another, ending a boozy night.
Satellite Tuifao, 23, was ordered to pay compensation to the staff of popular Brisbane bar, Defiant Duck, after pleading guilty in the Brisbane Magistrates Court to assault occasioning bodily harm and common assault.
The court heard a female bartender at the venue told Tuifao and her friends to leave as they were intoxicated.
Tuifao then grabbed the victim and pushed her to the ground, hitting a male employee in the face during the pursuit.
She then reached down, grabbed the victim’s ponytail, and violently dragged her several metres across the floor while punching her in the body.
Tuifao was ordered to pay $700 in compensation, fined $750 and no conviction was recorded.
Timothy Tredwell
A Belli Park machine operator claims he doesn’t remember punching a security guard and scratching another’s face for no apparent reason during a night out in Maroochydore.
The court heard Tredwell had been out drinking with his friends for a birthday event on March 27, 2022, when he approached the line at Sol Bar and for “no reason” punched a male security guard.
Another female security guard then attempted to restrain Tredwell but he struck her in the face, which badly scratched her, then pulled her hair, refusing to let go.
He pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm, common assault and drunk and disorderly.
Tredwell was ordered to pay $500 in compensation and complete 150 hours of community service, no conviction was recorded.
Joseph Daniel Taylor
A father slapped a Noosa restaurant waiter across the head after they brought the bill over to him at the table, a court has heard.
Joseph Daniel Taylor, 43, was given a $750 fine in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on June 14, 2022.
Taylor was eating lunch at 250 Grammi Food and Wine Bar in Noosaville on January 29, 2022, when the incident occurred.
Taylor accused the waiter of being rude because he had brought the bill to the table while he was seated.
He then abused him and pointed his finger at his face before slapping him across the head with an open right hand.
Taylor pleaded guilty to common assault and was ordered to pay $500 compensation to the victim and no conviction was recorded.
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