Kenneth Charles Grace avoids actual jail time after throwing loaded weapon, threatening staff in Star Gold Coast hotel ordeal

An embattled businessman who fired a shot into a hotel television, threw a loaded weapon from a balcony and threatened a security officer, telling him “do you want a bullet in your (expletive) head” has avoided actual jail time.

AN embattled businessman who fired a shot into a hotel television, threw a loaded weapon from a balcony and threatened a security officer, telling him “do you want a bullet in your (expletive) head” has avoided actual jail time.

Kenneth Charles Grace, 54, was staying at the Star Grand Hotel, at the Star Casino, on October 8-10 last year when he failed to check out prompting security to check on him.

Police prosecutor Chris Freeman told Southport Magistrates that when security opened the door, Grace had his arm out and was pointing an unknown object and said, “do you want a bullet in your (expletive) head (expletive)”.

The hotel staff thought Grace had the gun so evacuated the room’s 12th floor and contacted police, the court was told. Grace left soon after and sought immediate help at Tweed Heads Hospital.

Mr Freeman said when police arrived they found a bullet hole in a television that was mounted on the wall, and a two-page note.

The court was told a loaded weapon was dropped from the balcony, which was later found in a garden bed.

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Kenneth Charles Grace outside Southport Magistrates Court.

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Grace pleaded guilty to five charges including dangerous conduct with a weapon, unlawful possession of a weapon, threatening violence and related offences.

The court was told he was suffering from mental health issues.

Mr Freeman described the offending as serious and labelled throwing the loaded weapon off the balcony as a “reckless act”.

“Regardless of one’s state of mind these are significantly concerning actions,” he said.

Defence solicitor Michael Purcell, of Potts Lawyers, described it as a “personal matter”. He said Grace had no criminal history.

He said Grace was the subject of bankruptcy proceedings which has led to his poor mental health.

Mr Purcell also told the court that Grace had gone to the hotel to commit self harm.

He said the businessman was “well regarded” but had been suffering from problems that had come his way.

The court heard he had been receiving help and his mental health had somewhat improved.

Mr Purcell told the court when the officer came to the hotel room the television had already been shot and the weapon had already been thrown from the window.

“There was never a danger to the guard but he certainly accepts that the guard might have seen the situation differently and is certainly traumatised from what occurred,” he said.

Grace was sentenced to three months in prison, wholly suspended, and two years of probation.

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