Blake Ferguson: Yamba man sentenced for a string of offences after a day at Maclean Hotel

A North Coast man who threatened to fight anyone who went near him and tried to knee a police officer in the groin after a boozy day now says he is a “changed man”.

Blake Ferguson leaving Maclean Local Court in April 2023.

A Clarence man claims he is now a different person after he threatened to “kill you c**ts” when he was arrested by police after a day drinking and playing the pokies at a popular local watering hole.

Yamba man Blake Ferguson, aged 32, fronted Maclean Local Court on Thursday having previously pleaded guilty to a string of charges.

The charges include failing to leave premises when required, damaging property, hindering police, two counts of possessing a prohibited drug and assaulting a police officer.

Documents tendered to court reveal how Ferguson, a man with an extensive criminal record, once again found himself in trouble with the law.

The court heard the Yamba man attended the Maclean Hotel on the morning of April 21, where he started his day of drinking and gambling.

A female worker noticed he was becoming argumentative and told him to leave the pub about 5.30pm.

Blake Ferguson leaving Maclean Local Court after pleading guilty in April.

“(Ferguson) started walking to the door, however, upon him getting to the front of the hotel, he was escorted by a male employee, he became combative and threatening towards staff,” court documents state.

The court heard by the time police arrived, Ferguson was continuing to abuse staff and attempting to fight anyone who went near him, while still trying to get back inside the pub.

According to court documents, Ferguson was “immediately aggressive and rude” towards police, and was evidently intoxicated.

The court heard Ferguson resisted arrest and was “pushed into the back of the police vehicle” when he was finally contained.

“While in the rear of the police vehicle, (he) continued to act in an aggressive manner and he was threatening to harm police saying ‘you white c**ts I know where you live, I’ll kill ya c**ts when I get out’,” police facts state.

At Grafton police station, officers found Ferguson to be in possession of 0.54 grams of cannabis and 2.29 grams of MDMA, a court heard.

The court heard he admitted to owning the cannabis, but when asked about the MDMA, he said the “Grafton mob” owned it.

Ferguson’s abusive behaviour towards police continued at the station when officers tried to place him back inside the dock.

“As this was happening, (a sergeant) was assisting other officers and (Ferguson) kneed the officer towards the genital region however his knee connected with the officer’s thigh,” court documents state.

Blake Ferguson outside Maclean Local Court.

In court, defence lawyer Matilda Lynch said her client’s charges all sprung from alcohol and substance abuse issues which he has since addressed.

He now regularly attends Narcotics Anonymous Australia (NAA) meetings and has stopped drinking alcohol.

Magistrate Juliana Crofts said she hopes this is “the new normal” for Ferguson.

“All of this could have been avoided if you had not been drinking alcohol and had drugs on that night,” the magistrate said.

Ferguson was fined $600 and sentenced to a 15 month community correction order.

After being sentenced, Ferguson offered to pose for photographs and said he was a changed man.

“All that was said in there — about me being of alcohol and attending NAA (Narcotics Anonymous Australia) meetings was true,” he said.

“I’ve changed and I’m not going back to how I was.”