Shane Gregory Hart pleads guilty to recklessly causing injury and affray

A Geelong dad who bashed a bouncer outside a popular Geelong West pub is not a regular drinker and the incident was “out of character”, a court has heard.

Shane Gregory Hart appeared in the Geelong Magistrates Court on Friday. Picture: LinkedIn

A Geelong dad who bashed a bouncer outside a popular Aberdeen St pub is “embarrassed” by the incident, a court has heard.

Shane Gregory Hart, 49, appeared in Geelong Magistrates Court on Friday and pleaded guilty to three charges, including recklessly causing injury, affray and failing to leave a licenced venue when requested.

The court heard on June 28 this year, the Geelong man was drinking at Murphys in Geelong West when he headed outside for a smoke.

He had a full drink, so a bouncer told him to take it back inside.

Inside, Hart placed the drink on the ground and “kicked” it, causing it to smash.

He went back outside, where the bouncer told him he wasn’t going to be let back in.

Hart became belligerent, the court heard, and a scuffle broke out after he tried to push past the bouncer.

Another bouncer and another man were also involved.

During the altercation, Hart grabbed the bouncer by the neck, prompting another security guard to strike Hart in the chest “three to four times” to get him to let go.

Hart and the bouncer wrestled, and Hart punched him, before an off-duty bouncer arrived and helped break up the fight.

Hart was interviewed by police on July 23, where he told them he “didn’t drink much” but was “heavily alcohol affected”.

The father-of-two said he had six to seven pints, the court was told, and recalled a “minor push and shove” and was remorseful and “completely embarrassed”.

The court heard Hart said he had “no excuse for it, apart from being a d---head”.

Hart’s lawyer, Simon Northeast, told the court his client was not much of a drinker, and had consumed cider, rather than beer, on the night in question.

He said the incident was “completely out of character” and Hart had been having trouble sleeping and been “completely beside himself”.

Hart pleaded guilty at the matter’s first appearance in court.

Mr Northeast told the court the episode had been particularly upsetting for the family, as Hart’s parents-in-law were both battling cancer.

Hart, who was supported in court by his wife, had been diagnosed with severe depression, the court heard.

Mr Northeast said Hart had been proactive and taken steps to mitigate his behaviour, including a mental healthcare plan and sessions with a men’s counselling service.

Magistrate Peter Mellas said there had been “some very bad decision making on this night”.

He placed Hart on an adjourned undertaking until September 5 next year. No conviction was recorded.

As part of the undertaking, Hart must pay $750 to the court fund and not consume any alcohol in a licenced premises.

Originally published as Shane Gregory Hart pleads guilty to recklessly causing injury and affray