Angus Peter: Boolarra reveller punches Inverloch man in face over alcohol

A boozed-up reveller looking for beer after already spending hours at an Inverloch pub, knocked a local out cold after he refused.

Angus Peter pleaded guilty to one charge of recklessly causing injury without lawful excuse and one charge of drunkenness in a public place.

An “immature” drunken reveller punched an Inverloch man in the face after the resident wouldn’t give him alcohol, a court has heard.

Angus Peter, 23, pleaded guilty at Korumburra Magistrates’ Court to one charge of recklessly causing injury without lawful excuse and one charge of drunkenness in a public place.

The court heard Peter had been drinking at Inverloch Esplanade Hotel before heading to a friends house for a party on October 18, 2019.

After consuming a large amount of alcohol and running out of beer, Peter and his friend decided to knock on neighbours door in attempt to get more supplies.

At around midnight on October 19, Peter knocked on a man’s door in Endeavour Place, Inverloch and demanded booze.

The man said no and Peter began to swear.

After being told to leave the premises, Peter and his friend hung around in the front yard.

Residents told them to leave but Peter became aggressive and punched the man in the face.

The man fell to the ground where he lost consciousness and sustained several cuts.

He suffered a mild traumatic brain injury from the punch and took one month off work.

Peter ran from the scene but was later contacted by police where he was arrested outside the Esplanade Hotel.

Police said Peter’s speech was slurred, his breath smelled like alcohol and eyes were bloodshot.

The court heard in a police interview that Peter couldn’t remember what happened and said he was “f**king blind”.

Peter’s lawyer Kim McFarlane said the Boolarra man was an “immature” 21-year-old in 2019.

“He has significantly grown up since then,” she said.

“He is now a 23-year-old and in that time has completed a plumbing apprenticeship.”

Ms McFarlane said although the offending was “exceptionally serious”, Peter had “taken full responsibility” for his crimes.

Magistrate Ann Collins said alcohol was a clear factor for the punch.

“I am concerned about the amount of alcohol involved,” she said.

“I appreciate you have started to take some responsibility for that.”

Peter was given a community corrections order for a period of nine months.

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