Blake Ferguson: Yamba man pleads guilty to string of offences after day at Maclean Hotel

A landscaper threatened to fight anyone who went near him and tried to knee a police officer in the groin during a boozy day at a popular northern NSW pub.

Blake Ferguson pleaded guilty at Maclean Local Court.

A Clarence Valley landscaper threatened to “kill you c--ts” when he was arrested by police after a day of drinking and playing the pokies at a popular local watering hole.

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

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

Blake Ferguson leaves Maclean Local Court.

Ferguson was polite at the start of the day and did not seem to be drinking too much alcohol.

But a female worker noticed he was becoming argumentative and told him to leave the pub about 5:30pm, a court heard.

“(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,” police facts state.

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, a court heard.

According to court documents, Ferguson was “immediately aggressive and rude” towards police, and was evidently intoxicated — he had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, was unsteady on his feet and was spitting on the ground.

The court heard Ferguson resisted the police arrest and “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.

Blake Ferguson.

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.

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

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,” police facts state.

In court, defence lawyer Matilda Lynch asked for the matter to be adjourned for sentencing so Ferguson could participate in the MERIT program and receive a sentencing assessment report.

He is next due to face court on May 11.