Bairnsdale Magistrates’ Court: Shane Gary Norris damages motel room in Lakes Entrance

A boozed-up Gippsland fisherman smashed his way into a Lakes Entrance motel, spraying the room with blood after “just getting upset”.

Shane Norris appeared via web link at the Bairnsdale Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

A boozed-up East Gippsland fisherman trashed a motel room, spraying furniture and the bed sheets with blood after “just getting upset”.

Shane Norris, 43, appeared via web link at the Bairnsdale Magistrates’ Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to charges of criminal damage and burglary.

The court heard Norris went to the Lakeside Motel Waterfront in Lakes Entrance where he started banging on the door of his victim’s room.

The victim later returned to the hotel, discovered the front window shattered, glass sliding doors smashed, damaged bedside tables and blood splattered on the bed sheets and curtains — resulting in thousands of dollars in damages.

About an hour later, police arrived at the scene, took DNA swabs of the blood and found a mountain bike.

On September 10 last year, Norris was arrested, taken to the Lakes Entrance police station and denied the offending.

However, officers found out the mountain bike at the scene had been purchased by Norris.

Defence lawyer Daniel Taylor said his client had a long history of trauma.

“I think there was a lot of childhood exposure to alcohol-fuelled violence,” Mr Taylor said.

Norris went to the Lakeside Motel Waterfront in Lakes Entrance and damaged one of the rooms. Picture: Google Maps

“While there’s a long criminal history, he’s also had a very fairly good work history — he had a house at one point, he was a fisherman — he worked very hard on the boats.

“He sees alcohol as his biggest issue and he acknowledges that gets him into a whole lot of chaotic reactive and alcohol-fuelled incidents.”

Mr Taylor said Norris wanted to live in Stratford and avoid being in Lakes Entrance.

Norris told the court most of his problems had been caused from “just getting upset”.

“Probably drinking is not helping — overall I’m not generally out doing these types of things,” he said.

Magistrate Cecily Hollingworth said Norris needed to “wise up” and deal with his anger.

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“The worst thing to be doing is drinking because once someone starts drinking or taking drugs, the reality is that they then have the Dutch courage,” Ms Hollingworth said.

“You just cannot be engaging in that behaviour — with your priors — you’re going to end up back in (jail).”

Norris, who is already in custody, was sentenced to prison for another two months.