Luke Anthony Billett’s coward punch to security guard at his 21st birthday

A tradie who coward-punched a security guard after spotting a friend being thrown out of his 21st birthday has escaped conviction. Watch the video.

A tradie who coward-punched a security guard after spotting a friend being thrown out of his 21st birthday has escaped conviction.

Luke Anthony Billett hit the security guard from behind, put him in a headlock and continued to punch him at the Palm Beach Currumbin Sports Club about 10.30pm on July 30.

When CCTV footage of the fight was played to the Southport Magistrates Court on Friday, Billett said to himself: “You idiot.”

He is wearing a dark blue jacket in the footage and throws a beer at security.

A magistrate told the 21-year-old his parents must be “so proud”.

Tradie Luke Billett moments before he coward punched a security guard after spotting a friend getting booted from a 21st birthday.

Billett pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm while in company.

Magistrate Gary Finger fined him $1500 and ordered he pay $500 in compensation. No conviction was recorded.

“You acted like a thug, nothing more, nothing less,” Magistrate Finger said.

“(Your parents) paid no doubt for your 21st birthday party and hired out the club and here you are getting arrested by the police … Gee, they would have been proud of you.

“You have embarrassed them, you have embarrassed your family, you have embarrassed yourself.

“This man was attacked by you. It was a king-hit. You are lucky you are not here on something more serious.

“You act like a thug, you get treated like a thug.”

Police prosecutor Sergeant Dave Shelton said the bar had been hired out for Billett’s 21st birthday party.

A friend was being escorted out by security when Billett and his other friends saw him.

The group jumped the two security guards.

He said during the fight Billett coward punched a security guard from behind and hit him a number of times.

The group then left and it took months for police to track Billett down.

Defence lawyer Johnathan Nyst, of Nyst Legal, said Billett was intoxicated at the party, only had a “vague” recollection, and was incredibly remorseful.

“He does recall he was quite upset when one of his friends was asked to leave,” he said.

He said Billett had completed an apprenticeship in exhibition and events trades but had to stop work after a back injury.

Magistrate Finger said: “He didn’t seem too impaired that night.”

Mr Nyst said the back injury would flare up making it difficult to work.

Outside of court, Mr Nyst said Billett was genuinely remorseful for his actions.

“His behaviour was out of line and he fully accepts that,” he said.

“He’s just eager now to put the whole ugly incident behind him and move on with his life.”

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