Lipau Bungi Mene, 20, headbutted a security guard after he was asked to leave Brothers Leagues Club, court told

A young man has been told to “work harder” to control his anger after pleading guilty to headbutting a security guard at a Cairns sporting club.

Lipau Bungi Mene, 20, assaulted a security guard who was “just doing his job”, the court was told.

A young man who headbutted a security guard who asked him to leave Brothers Leagues Club has been sentenced to a suspended jail term.

Lipau Bungi Mene, 20, pleaded guilty in Cairns Magistrates Court to assault occasioning bodily harm and causing a public nuisance over the incident at the Manunda sporting club on the evening of February 15, 2025.

Magistrate Sandra Pearson sentenced him to six months’ jail, wholly suspended for nine months.

Police prosecutor Claudia Verwey told the court Mene continued his violent behaviour after the headbutt, also punching the security guard multiple times.

Lipau Bungi Mene, 20, headbutted and punched a security guard, who had asked him to leave, at Brothers Leagues Club.

Defence solicitor Krystal Stringfellow said Mene had been drinking at the club for several hours that day and was not aware he had been banned from Brothers.

She said he was upset at being asked to leave the club shortly after he had ordered and paid for a meal, and was very sorry for his anger and his actions.

Mr Mene had since sought help for mental health issues, she said.

Magistrate Sandra Pearson said she accepted Lipau Bungi Mene was sorry for his actions and taking steps to address his anger, but said the sentence must protect people doing security roles. Picture: Brendan Radke

Ms Pearson accepted Mene was remorseful and noted his youth and early plea of guilty, but said his punishment needed to provide “some level of protection for people working in the security industry”.

“You headbutted this fellow who was just doing his job … you need to work harder to not take it out (trauma) on other people.” Ms Pearson said.

Originally published as Lipau Bungi Mene, 20, headbutted a security guard after he was asked to leave Brothers Leagues Club, court told