Reilly Kevin Alexander in court for breaking into surf life saving club

A drunk young man decided to break into the Hervey Bay Surf Life Saving Club to shelter from the cold, but his decision backfired when the alarm went off.

A young shed builder was intoxicated when he decided to break into Hervey Bay Surf Life Saving Club to shelter from the cold, but his decision backfired when the alarm went off.

A young shed builder was intoxicated when he decided to break into Hervey Bay Surf Life Saving Club to shelter from the cold, but his decision backfired when the alarm went off.

Reilly Kevin Alexander, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of wilful damage when he faced Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Police prosecutor Kim Harwood said about 4.10am on October 3, 2024, Alexander went to the Hervey Bay Surf Lifesaving Club on the Esplanade at Torquay.

He had walked the premises, trying to get in at several external doors, before forcing open a roller door and entering the business, triggering the security alarm, the court heard.

A young shed builder was intoxicated when he decided to break into Hervey Bay Surf Life Saving Club to shelter from the cold, but his decision backfired when the alarm went off.

Alexander searched the office and tried to deactivate the alarm, it heard.

Sgt Harwood said a representative of the club saw Alexander on CCTV and contacted the police.

When police found him inside the surf club they arrested him.

Alexander implied to them he wasn’t doing anything wrong and was helping the club by opening up for them..

He then said he had been walking home from Torquay Hotel when he became cold and sought refuge inside the club.

A representative from the club said the roller door had been damaged and the internal security control panel had also been damaged.

Restitution was sought for that damage.

Duty lawyer Virginia Ukpabi said it was the first time Alexander had been before the court.

She said that on the night of the incident he had been out drinking and he was so drunk no taxi or courtesy bus driver would take him home, and it was too far to walk.

“He unfortunately made the foolish decision to enter into the lifesaving club,” she said.

“There was no intention to steal anything, it was just that he needed somewhere to stay for the night.”

Ms Ukpabi said that information wasn’t an excuse, but was intended to provide context.

She said Alexander was remorseful and wanted to provide compensation for the damage he had caused.

He was currently employed as a shed builder, Ms Ukpabi said.

Magistrate Trinity McGarvie said the surf lifesaving club was an important community organisation and for them to be put to the cost of repairing the damage was inappropriate.

She acknowledged that he had no criminal history.

Alexander was sentenced to 12 months on probation and ordered to pay $1676 in compensation.

No conviction was recorded.

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Originally published as Reilly Kevin Alexander in court for breaking into surf life saving club