Top Brisbane chef blames Friday ‘sessions’ for graffiti crimes

One of Brisbane’s top chefs has blamed COVID’s impact on his industry, a personal tragedy and the tradition of Friday knock-off drinks for a spate of graffiti crimes.

Top Brisbane chef Troy Manning has received probation for graffiti offences which he blamed on an alcohol problem cause by the industry's Friday knock-off sessions.

He has served with distinction in Michelin-starred restaurants, but Troy Manning has faced a Brisbane court for a string of graffiti crimes he blamed on his industry’s booze culture.

Manning, who has worked at Stokehouse and a European Michelin-starred eatery, said he fell into alcohol abuse due to COVID’s impact on his industry, a personal tragedy and the tradition of Friday knock-off drinking sessions.

He pleaded guilty on March 26 to a spate of graffiti crimes where he drew his “tag’’ on a wall outside elite All Hallows’ School in Fortitude Valley, on a train and on street furniture in West End.

Manning pleaded guilty in Holland Park Magistrates Court to seven counts of wilful damage and one count of possessing a graffiti instrument (a Sharpie pen).

Top Brisbane chef Troy Manning, who served at a European Michelin-starred restaurant, has received probation for graffiti offences.

The court heard he was on probation for similar offences when he was arrested for the string of graffiti incidents, committed between August and September last year and on January 6 last year.

But his lawyer, Paul Coves, said the sous chef had turned his life around and had not offended since September.

Mr Coves said Manning, who now leads a team of 10 people when his head chef is away, worked 65 hours a week and had lived in Belgium where he worked in a leading restaurant.

He was so highly thought of in the hospitality industry that he was recently headhunted from Stokehouse restaurant by another leading Brisbane eatery.

“Knock-off time drinks seems to have led him down this track,’’ Mr Coves said.

“But he has turned over a new leaf. There’s nothing in his history that is glowing, but nothing has happened since September — it’s all historical offending.

“When COVID came along a lot of things went wrong in the hospitality industry.

“But he’s come a long way. He’s realised the depths he was at and has abstained from alcohol for four months.’’

Police Prosecutor, Sgt David Low, said Manning was identified on CCTV footage and a search of his premises found clothing matching those he was wearing at the time of the offences.

The tags were also similar to tags Manning had previously admitted to executing, and when challenged by police officers Manning admitted he had committed the offences.

Magistrate Simon Young said he understood the devastating impact of COVID and sympathised with a tragedy in Manning’s personal life at the time of the offending.

He also took into account Manning’s early guilty pleas and steps to address his alcohol abuse.

“But there needs to be a degree of personal deterrence. You were on probation for similar offending,’’ Mr Young said.

“In the circumstances I’m persuaded further probation is warranted, for a period of 18 months.’’

Mr Young also ordered Manning undertake 40 hours of community service, namely removing graffiti, and that he pay All Hallows’ School $160 and Brisbane City Council $380 in restitution for the damage he caused.