Lismore man sentenced after drunken rage at sports club

A Northern Rivers man has been sentenced after he drank another person's beer ‘in front of him’ leading to an alcohol-fuelled rage.

A Lismore man who drank another person’s beer “in front of him” before breaking two glass panels of the Lismore Workers Club has learned his fate.

Danny Robert Presbury, 45, fronted Ballina Local Court on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to one charge of intentionally or recklessly destroying property and one charge of failing to leave the premises of the Lismore Workers Club after he became heavily intoxicated and aggressive.

Presbury’s solicitor told the court he was drinking on March 26 at the Goonellabah Tavern and was “asked to leave, got in a cab and made the unfortunate decision to travel to the sports club”.

“He was let into the club despite the level of intoxication and was there for an hour and a half and was served more drinks,” Presubry’s solicitor said.

Police facts tendered to the court say at about 7.30pm Presbury picked up the beer of another patron and “drank it in front of him”.

Dan Presbury leaves Ballina Local Court after being sentenced for damaging property and refusing to leave Lismore Workers Club Picture: Nicholas Rupolo.

Documents state the patron reported the incident to nearby security who asked Presbury to leave but he “refused to leave and became aggressive”.

The record of the events says Presbury began “kneeing, punching and kicking the glass doors out of anger” and smashed two of the glass panels at the front of Lismore Workers Club.

The court heard police arrived a short time later and detained Presbury who was heavily intoxicated.

His solicitor said he has “a lot of remorse” for what he did and admits “alcohol has been an issue for him”.

She added: “Following a similar matter in 2015 he went to Alcoholics Anonymous and following this incident he made enquiries as to whether AA was running in Lismore”.

Magistrate Jeff Linden described it as a “classic situation where excessive alcohol was consumed” and that Presbury “comes to court with a similar matter on record that shows a difficulty with alcohol”.

Presbury’s solicitor informed the court that the 45-year old was “barred from the sports club” and banned from licensed premises”.

The 45-year old was convicted and sentenced to a 12 month community correction order for the charge of damaging property.

He was also convicted and fined $200 for failing to leave the premises when asked to.