Demi Laurence and Timothy Holmes: UK couple’s drunken assault on third night in country

Here’s how two hapless, fresh-off-the boat Brits got drunk, took on a security guard at a ritzy Bondi pub, and ended their third night in Sydney in jail.

In a bizarre tale of misadventure, two fresh-off-the boat Brits only days out from their arrival in Australia faced court after taking swings at a hospitality worker in Bondi.

After throwing punches at a security guard manning the door at glamorous Bondi drinking hole Salty’s, a young couple faced court for their “nuisance behaviour.”

Demi Laurence, 24, and Timothy Holmes, 28, were charged with common assault at Waverley Local Court after a cocktail-fuelled evening of misadventure turned violent.

On Saturday March 19 at around 6pm Laurence and Holmes went to Ravesis Hotel in Bondi and drank a number of cocktails before heading to another pub, Salty’s.

Timothy Holmes leaving Waverley Local Court.

The accused and co-accused are a couple from the United Kingdom on working Visas and had been in Sydney for only three days, court documents said.

At around 7.45pm Holmes was asked by the victim, a security guard , to leave because he was too drunk.

Holmes left Salty’s but argued with the guard for a table outside, which was refused.

At this point Laurence entered the scene, joining in the argument and feeling “indignation” at the situation.

The security guard tried to usher them along as they were obstructing the entryway.

Demi Laurence and Timothy Holmes outside Waverley Court.

However court documents show Laurence and Holmes instead launched themselves at the security guard.

Laurence took the first swing by reaching over her male companion to try to punch the guard, who responded by pulling her to the side and causing her to lose her footing and fall to the ground.

Holmes retaliated by throwing a second punch which was blocked by the victim.

While the security guard attempted to restrain Holmes, Laurence got up off the ground, grabbed hold of him from below and pulled his shirt.

The couple’s evening began at popular Bondi establishment Ravesis Hotel. Picture: Damian Shaw

Holmes, “brandishing a fist” - according to court documents - walked toward the guard.

The guard grabbed a hold of Laurence and pushed her into her male friend “to prevent another assault”, court documents said.

This back and forth continued for several seconds, at one point leading the British pair to bump into each other in pursuit of the security guard.

At another, Holmes threw a punch at the guard while Laurence tried to grab him from behind.

Finally the facts show the manager appeared and put herself between them to stop the altercation.

However Laurence responded by lunging forward at the guard and throwing a punch at him while Holmes came up directly behind her to throw his own right punch.

Demi Laurence and Timothy Holmes outside Waverley Court.

By-standers intervened and tried to restrain the couple while the police were called.

The court was told Laurence admitted to police at Waverley Police Station she threw the first punch at the security guard but and said: “he was such an asshole.”

She told police she didn’t think her male friend was “that drunk”, court documents show.

Magistrate Hudson told the court drunken and alcohol-fuelled violence was a concern.

“There is no excuse to go out, become intoxicated and be violent,” the magistrate said.

Magistrate Hudson entered guilty verdicts for the pair and sentenced them to a 15 month Conditional Release Order.

The magistrate said while alcohol-fuelled violence was a problem he noted they were remorseful and that a conviction would have a significant possible impact.

The victim did not sustain any visible injuries, court documents show.