Ryan Maas: Dubbo builder sentenced after wild night out

A Dubbo father who had to be subdued with capsicum spray has told a court of the disappointment and shame he felt when shown footage of his drunken behaviour.

Ryan Maas was “ashamed” after seeing footage of his drunken antics. Picture: Facebook

A Dubbo man has been given no convictions for assault and resist police offences he pleaded guilty to in court after a drunken night out.

In court documents, police said Ryan Leigh Maas became aggressive after staff at the Pastoral Hotel refused to give him more alcohol on January 19 this year.

Police were called to the pub because staff were concerned about the 37-year-old’s behaviour and they noticed he was slurring his words and unsteady on his feet.

“I don’t f****** care,” Maas yelled loudly at police who advised him to move on from the pub.

Ryan Maas was fined his drunken antics in Dubbo. Picture: Facebook

After walking away for a short time, Maas returned to the pub and police grabbed his arm to arrest him.

Police said Maas pulled away from two officers when they tried to get him into a police vehicle.

Maas refused to move his legs inside the caged section of the vehicle and police said they had to grab his legs and lift him into the vehicle.

According to court documents, when the vehicle door was opened Maas pushed one police officer in the chest and caused him to stagger backwards.

The officer was pushed again by Maas and fed-up police used capsicum spray to calm him down.

Maas pleaded guilty to assaulting and resist police offences, along with charges of failing to leave a premises when required, continuing intoxicated behaviour after being given a move on direction and using offensive language in a public place.

Dubbo Local Court Magistrate Theresa Hamilton recorded no convictions against Maas. Picture: Jedd Manning

Supported by his father in Dubbo Local Court, Maas said he did not remember much about the incident that landed him in court.

“I’ve got a family, I’ve got three small children now … I want to set a good example for them,” he told the court.

Maas said he felt “disappointed” and “ashamed” after seeing footage of his behaviour.

The court heard Maas ran his own building business and he said most of his work was government funded and involved projects such as schools and teacher housing properties.

Maas told the court business had dried up by “60 or 50 per cent” and that he’d have to let staff go if he couldn’t get work.

If Maas received convictions it would jeopardise his ability to attend sites in person because he would have a criminal record, the court heard.

Magistrate Theresa Hamilton told the court Maas had been shown leniency before, with previous resist and affray charges dismissed.

“He’s not assisted by his history,” Magistrate Hamilton said.

“There are offences which all in my view point to drink being involved, including some of a similar nature.”

Magistrate Hamilton said she wouldn’t normally consider leniency, however the assault police offence Maas was charged with was “at the low end of the range”.

“The language itself is relatively low level, it was after 9pm,” she said.

“He said he was addressing his drinking and I think being on a bond, knowing he can brought back for re-sentencing would obviously reinforce to him that he’s not being let off with a slap on the wrist.”

Citing the effect a conviction would have on the business Maas operated and low-level nature of the offences he committed, magistrate Hamilton did not convict Maas of any offences.

He was found guilty, fined $650 and handed two 18-month condition release orders which require him to be of good behaviour.

“I’m giving you a chance to keep your business going, but it’s up to you now to stay out of trouble,” magistrate Hamilton told Maas.