Henri Luke Neil faces court for failing to leave Byron Bluesfest, hindering police during arrest
A Queensland man has landed in court after kicking up a stink when he was denied entry to popular Byron Bay Bluesfest on the North Coast and refused an immediate refund.
Police & Courts
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A Queensland reveller told a security guard to “rot in hell c--t”, threatened to punch him and hindered police after he was refused entry to Byron Bay Bluesfest for being drunk and “quarrelsome”.
Henri Luke Neil pleaded guilty at Byron Bay Local Court on Monday to failing to leave premises and hindering police.
The 27-year-old man listed as hailing from Sunrise Beach in the Noosa area made abusive comments to a police drug detection dog handler at the Bluesfest entry gates about 2.30pm on April 7.
Neil’s eyes were bloodshot, he was slurring, smelt of alcohol and was unsteady on his feet, police state in court documents.
“Police asked Neil to leave the premises due to his intoxication and quarrelsome behaviour,” it’s stated.
Neil became “belligerent, irate, argumentative and verbally abusive,” when he was escorted from the gates by police and security.
“Neil demanded an immediate refund for his ticket … he stepped into a security guard’s face and had to be pushed back multiple times,” the documents state.
He abused the guard and was warned he would be fined if he continued to swear.
Neil replied: “Well give it to me then. It will be worth it for punching this c--t in the head.”
Neil continued arguing and refusing to leave, prompting police to grab hold of him to move him away, but he started thrashing to escape.
“Police took Neil to the ground to gain control and he refused to put an arm behind his back,” the documents state.
Neil was taken towards a police bus, continuing to resist while verbally abusing officers.
He was dropped off at a nearby petrol station close to his friends, police state.
Neil represented himself at the court.
He said he was intoxicated at the time and was remorseful for his behaviour.
Neil faced the court with no prior criminal history.
Magistrate Karen Stafford said the courts needed to help put a stop to conduct like Neil’s.
“You were excluded from Bluesfest because you were too intoxicated,” she said.
Neil was convicted and fined $1600.
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