Harley John Felix sentenced in Townsville Magistrates Court for bomb hoax at Showbar on Flinders Street

A young man who was kicked out of a Townsville strip club has fronted court for faking an emergency call to police forcing everyone to evacuate.

Harley John Felix sentenced in Townsville Magistrates Court for bomb hoax at Showbar on Flinders Street Picture: Google

A young man who attempted to re-enter a strip club after being kicked out, then faked an emergency phone call after he was denied entry a second time has fronted court for the disruptive hoax.

Harley John Felix appeared in Townsville Magistrates Court on Monday morning, after police traced the fake emergency phone call back to his mobile.

Police prosecutor Tim Madsen said on December 23 last year the 22-year-old was kicked out of the Showbar on Flinders Street and attempted to come back in only 15 minutes later.

Following the boiler maker’s second rejection of the evening that occurred just after 11pm, he called police pretending there was a bomb inside the strip club, forcing the entire business to evacuate.

“He’s made an emergency services call which of course inconvenienced the business and patrons,” Mr Madsen said.

Magistrate Steven Mosch queried the prosecutor on the level of disruption that was caused, to which Mr Madsen said it “wasn’t a particularly busy night” however all staff and patrons did have to exit the premises.

Defence barrister Michael Hibble instructed by Salt Legal said the young man who had no criminal history was drunk when he made the hoax call.

“To be frank he had too much to drink, he thought it was funny at the time,” Mr Hibble said.

“We all make mistakes when we’re young, we don’t always get caught, it’s just stupid in my submission.”

Felix’s lawyer submitted references on his behalf which outlined his work ethic and general good behaviour.

When handing down a sentence Magistrate Mosch said the offence wasted police time having to search the strip club for an explosive device.

“It was idiotic behaviour and immaturity on your part that led to the situation unfolding and caused disruption to the business and police activity,” he said.

Felix was originally charged with falsely informing of a bomb hoax which the prosecution offered no evidence to at the beginning of the matter, and it was replaced with making a false emergency phone call.

The man pleaded guilty to the false emergency charge along with entering a licensed premises.

He was fined $350 in relation to the enter premises charge and sentenced to a good behaviour order of $1500 for one year in regards to the false triple-0 call. No convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Harley John Felix sentenced in Townsville Magistrates Court for bomb hoax at Showbar on Flinders Street