Justin Doyle: Coogee man sentenced for intimidation, theft and assault after Coogee Bay Hotel rampage

What started as drinks at the Coogee Bay Hotel spiralled into an alcohol-fuelled rampage by a sales manager, who attempted to beat up a security guard while brandishing a butter knife.

An eastern suburbs man a magistrate described as having a “Jekyll and Hyde” relationship with alcohol faced court following a drunken rampage through Coogee involving too many drinks at Coogee Bay Hotel and the theft of a butter knife.

Justin Doyle, 27, fronted Waverley Local Court on the charges of stalking or intimidation intended to cause fear of physical or mental harm, larceny, using or attempting to use an offensive weapon, common assault and public fighting on Wednesday.

Magistrate Ross Hudson told the man it was clear “there’s an issue with your relationship with alcohol” as he considered the severity of the crimes’ harm to the community.

Documents tendered to court state about 8pm on Sunday, April 17 Doyle went to the Coogee Bay Hotel with another man, sharing a table with two women they had not met before.

After talking for a while one of the women began to feel uncomfortable and asked the men to leave, court documents said.

Justin Doyle leaving court. Photo: Bianca Healey.

However, the facts stated about 8.30pm Doyle instead picked up a glass from the table and threatened to smash it.

Fearing for her safety, the woman took out her mobile phone and attempted to take a photograph of Doyle.

Doyle snatched the phone out of her hand, leading the woman to complain to staff about his behaviour.

Security guards then went to the table and removed Doyle from the hotel, the facts said.

At this point, Doyle walked across the road to Little Jack Horner cafe, climbed through the window and grabbed a metal butter knife from a “pot of cutlery on a bench”, according to court documents.

He then climbed back out the window and returned to the main door of the hotel. Doyle approached a manager on duty at the hotel and security staff, holding the knife in his right hand.

He stepped toward the manager who told him to “go away”.

However Doyle stepped toward the manager and threw a “forceful punch” at his head, the facts state.

Still holding the butter knife, Doyle left the venue, causing passing pedestrians to raise their hands in fear, the facts state, with the unfolding events captured on CCTV and mobile phones.

Justin Doyle outside Waverley Local Court. Photo: Bianca Healey.

On May 5 police were granted a search warrant for Doyle’s home in Coogee, leading to his arrest the next day.

Doyle’s lawyer Mr Bide told the court Doyle struggled with a “fight or flight response” while intoxicated following being bashed in jail while in custody for a previous violence and alcohol-related offence.

“His mind comes undone,” Mr Bide said.

Magistrate Hudson noted Doyle was supported in court by his mother and had a good relationship with both parents – and that he was employed full-time as a sales manager in a role “of some responsibility.”

The magistrate told the court in a submitted letter Doyle said he had realised what he had done and “walked home crying” following his violent outburst.

Magistrate Hudson warned Doyle he needed to “start to manage [his] impulsivity” to protect others from alcohol-fuelled violence.

“Of paramount consideration is community safety,” he told the court. “When you drink you are a different person. And when you drink you are a danger to others. Leave this court warned.”

Magistrate Hudson convicted Doyle of stalking or intimidation intended to cause fear of physical or mental harm, larceny, using or attempting to use an offensive weapon, common assault and public fighting.

He was sentenced him to a 13-month jail sentence, to be served in the community by way of an intensive corrections order, and a $450 fine for larceny.