Michael Mark Menzies faces court after punching security guard in face at Railway Friendly Bar in Byron Bay
A drunk builder punched a security guard in the face after he was hauled out of a Byron Bay pub because he refused to leave, a court heard.
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A drunk builder punched a security guard in the face after he was hauled out of a Byron Bay pub because he refused to leave, a court heard.
Michael Mark Menzies, 29, pleaded guilty at Byron Bay Local Court to assault causing actual bodily harm and failing to leave premises when required.
The manager of the Railway Friendly Bar on Jonson St noticed Menzies was seriously affected by alcohol about 10.30pm on February 2, police facts state.
The Byron Bay man was refused service and started arguing when he was asked to leave.
“He had a beer in his hand and kept on drinking,” court documents state.
Menzies was asked to put the beer down and he responded by skolling the drink.
“Menzies started walking and dancing around the hotel repeatedly refusing to leave,” the court documents state.
Menzies “started to get aggressive” when a security guard tried to escort him out of the bar.
The guard grabbed Menzies arm, he broke free, lost his balance and fell on the ground.
Menzies then grabbed the security guard by his legs.
The guard grabbed Menzies by the waist, lifted him upside down, hauled him outside and told him to walk away.
“Menzies punched the security guard in the nose,” court documents state.
“The victim felt instant pain and sustained bleeding and swelling to his nose.”
Menzies was restrained on the ground by the guard and a security colleague until police arrived. He did not co-operate as he was arrested.
Police used force to pull Menzies’ arms out from under his body to handcuff him before he was arrested and taken to Byron Bay Police Station.
The court heard Menzies has been seeing a psychologist after the incident.
Magistrate Kathy Crittenden said on Monday that the security guard was just doing his job.
“Alcohol fuelled violence often leads to catastrophes” she said.
Ms Crittenden sentenced Menzies to a 12-month supervised community corrections order and fined him $300.
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Originally published as Michael Mark Menzies faces court after punching security guard in face at Railway Friendly Bar in Byron Bay
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