Coronavirus fear: James Ardagh jailed, tried to force people to shake hands
James Ardagh sentenced in Manly Local Court for a drunken tirade that saw him deliberately bumping into strangers and then abusing them when they did not want to shake hands with him.
Manly
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A man who deliberately bumped into strangers and then assaulted and harassed passers-by for “not shaking hands” on a popular Sydney beachside walk, has been jailed for 12 months.
James Ardagh, 43, of Manly, was drunk when he shouted at people to bump elbows with him on the pathway along West Esplanade in Manly Cove on March 24 — a week after strict COVID-19 social distancing rules were introduced.
But the unemployed chef, who has been in custody since his arrest, became angry when people avoided his invitation.
Ardagh, who Manly Local Court was told on Wednesday becomes violent when affected by alcohol, pleaded guilty to one count each of behaving in an offensive manner in a public place and common assault.
His Legal Aid solicitor Fiona Hadlington said Ardagh began drinking that day because Balgowlah RSL was closed down and he missed its $5 lunch deal.
The court was told that Ardagh had been previously banned from pubs and bars in Manly due to his behaviour while intoxicated. He drinks up to two bottles of wine a day.
The court was told he yelled abuse at people on West Esplanade for not bumping elbows with him, before trying to block people, including a mother with a small child and a group of joggers, from getting past him on the footpath.
Ardagh also tried to knock the glasses from the face of a 62-year-old man from Fairlight who told him to stop harassing people.
A police facts sheets tendered to court said a drunk Ardagh, carrying a bottle in a brown paper bag, was “stumbling and uneasy on his feet” when he asked them to bump elbows.
He shouted at the assault victim: “Shakes hands ya f*****g c***”. The victim and his partner refused.
When Ardagh again tried to bump elbows with the victim, he and his partner “feared for their safety”, the facts sheet said.
Ardagh then tried to block the joggers on the footpath before approaching and abusing a woman with a young child.
The assault victim told Ardagh.: “Mate, just leave everybody alone, go sit down and stop hassling everybody.”
Ardagh then shaped up to the victim with raised, clenched fists and tried to knock the victim’s glasses off.
Police prosecutor Adrian Walsh said Ardagh, who has a lengthy record for violence and alcohol-related offences, should be jailed.
“Protection of the community is paramount, especially in this current environment,” Sgt Walsh said.
Magistrate Michelle Goodwin told Ardagh his behaviour was “absolutely unacceptable”.
“It is a sad reality that you have an alcohol problem and when in the community, you can’t control your addiction,” Ms Goodwin said.
“Why should they have to put up with that sort of behaviour.”
On the common assault charge, Ardagh was jailed for 12 months, from March 24, with a four- month non-parole period.
For behaving in an offensive manner he was handed a 12-month Community Correction Order and banned from using alcohol for the same period.