Dean Merlin Stapleton fined for public nuisance, wilful damage

A Gold Coast carpenter turned pub menace was tossed out of two Gympie hotels in one night for “over the top behaviour” but a court heard it wasn’t just booze that led to his drunken decisions.

A 29-year-old Gold Coast carpenter has avoided being banned from two Gympie region pubs, after he threw a glass bottle at a wall and later headbutted and punched a glass door.

Dean Merlin Stapleton pleaded guilty in Gympie Magistrates Court on Monday to public nuisance and wilful damage.

The court heard Stapleton was kicked out of the Mt Pleasant Hotel in Gympie late on Friday, May 6, after he drunkenly threw a glass bottle at a wall, narrowly missing other pub goers.

This was in response to being asked to leave after he was arguing with other patrons.

Dean Merlin Stapleton was kicked out of two Gympie region pubs for aggressive behaviour.

Police arrived and told Stapleton to move on.

Later, just after midnight, Stapleton was at the Jockey Club in Southside when another pub goer recognised him from the altercation at the Mt Pleasant Hotel.

Security were notified and Stapleton was denied service and asked to leave.

Police prosecutor Melissa Campbell said while Stapleton was leaving, another customer began making comments and gestures at him from inside the pub.

“The defendant responded by yelling back at the patron, and punching and headbutting the glass front door, causing it to shatter,” she said.

Dean Merlin Stapleton was first kicked out of the Mt Pleasant Hotel in Gympie for throwing a glass bottle at a wall inside the pub on May 6.

Police found Stapleton walking through the Jockey Club carpark, where he was arrested.

Defence lawyer Mark Oliver told the court his client had argued with a woman at the Mt Pleasant Hotel, and after he left the venue, she and her partner followed him to other pubs.

There, Mr Oliver said the couple would make complaints about his client to security to have Stapleton removed.

“He was waiting outside (the Jockey Club) and the boyfriend of this particular female who followed him around, was looking in the window saying ‘punch me in the face’, and my client stupidly reacted and punched the window,” Mr Oliver said.

Dean Merlin Stapleton was arrested in the carpark of the Gympie Jockey Club in Southside, after he shattered a glass door. Picture: Google Maps

Stapleton was not banned from either venue for his behaviour, and no restitution was being sought.

Magistrate Chris Callaghan told Stapleton he had to be responsible for his behaviour when drinking, even when provoked by others. Stapleton agreed.

“You’re lucky you weren’t injured when you headbutt the door,” Mr Callaghan said.

Stapleton was fined $900.

A conviction was not recorded.

Originally published as Dean Merlin Stapleton fined for public nuisance, wilful damage