Beau Hawtin charged over Macca pub assault

A man from the NSW Mid North Coast who assaulted another male outside a popular pub has explained how he was provoked before the incident occurred.

A NSW Mid North Coast man who shoulder barged and pushed a patron at a popular local pub was provoked after the unknown male made a crude comment to a female friend, a court has heard.

Beau Hawtin, 24, was charged with common assault in 2021 after an incident which occurred as he was ejected with two female companions from the Port Macquarie Hotel – known locally as the Macca – due to his intoxication.

Agreed police facts state Hawtin and the two women were asked to leave around 1am due to their “aggressive behaviour towards each other”.

Hawtin’s solicitor James Janke told the court his client had stepped in to defend his female companion because the unknown victim had allegedly made a remark about putting a hand up her dress.

“Hawtin has shoulder barged one of the victims then pushed him back using both hands,” agreed police facts state.

“(One of the women) steps forward and starts pushing the victim too, (then she) continues to push the victim back until he is standing near the second victim, at which time she starts punching them both.

“(The other woman then) steps into the fracas and also starts pushing the victims.”

When a security officer intervened, one of the women then claimed she was Hawtin’s solicitor and “a senior magistrate” before she allegedly punched the security guard in the face.

The 24-year-old appeared in Port Macquarie Local Court this week.

“While this was happening, Hawtin was calling to the two unknown victims to meet him around the corner where he will knock them out,” agreed police facts state.

Following hectic scenes in which Hawtin and the women in his company repeatedly entered and departed the nearby police station, all three were arrested and charged over their various alleged roles in the fracas.

Hawtin pleaded guilty to common assault and an additional charge of affray was withdrawn and dismissed.

At Port Macquarie Local Court on July 13, Magistrate Georgina Darcy said it was fortunate no-one was injured in the incident.

“The community is sick and tired of people getting drunk and assaulting people,” Ms Darcy said.

“There is no excuse for this type of behaviour, you should be mature enough to walk away from this, even if you’re intoxicated.”

Hawtin was sentenced to an 18-month conditional release order without conviction.