Vivian John Murdoch pleaded guilty to causing a public nuisance

A “grossly intoxicated” father of six gave a service station worker a chilling reason for buying petrol before picking a fight … with a cage full of gas bottles.

Vivian John Murdoch, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of public nuisance, one count of possessing drug utensils and one count of breaching a bail condition when he faced Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on Thursday.

A father of six was heavily intoxicated when he asked to buy fuel to “burn someone” before punching a cage containing gas bottles, Hervey Bay Magistrates Court has heard.

Vivian John Murdoch, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of public nuisance, one count of possessing drug utensils and one count of breaching a bail condition.

The court heard the first two offences happened on December 9, 2024, at Pialba.

Murdoch had been “seriously intoxicated” when police were sent to the Shell Service Station at the intersection of Main St and Torquay Rd about 7.30pm, the court heard.

When police arrived, the officers saw Murdoch was with another man, sitting near the petrol bowsers.

The police identified themselves to the men and later spoke to the console operator who was working at the time.

Police were told Murdoch had approached the console operator and asked, “to purchase fuel because he wanted to burn someone”.

The console operator declined to sell him fuel, the court heard, and Murdoch had become verbally aggressive, yelling towards customers and the staff member and creating a general disturbance.

Murdoch then approached a cage containing gas bottles and began “punching and fighting the cage”, the court heard.

He was arrested and taken to the watch-house.

Vivian John Murdoch, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of public nuisance, one count of possessing drug utensils and one count of breaching a bail condition when he faced Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on Thursday.

During a search of his belongings, police located a used water pipe, which consisted of a small milk bottle with a hose and cone piece attached.

On December 18, 2024, Murdoch had breached his bail by failing to report to the Hervey Bay Police Station, the court heard.

Four days later he was located at his home and placed under arrest but was unable to be interviewed due to his level of intoxication.

The court heard Murdoch had a lengthy history of similar offending.

Murdoch had “no memory” of the offending and had been heavily intoxicated at the time.

The court heard Murdoch had felt a sense of shame that overwhelmed him and “deeply apologised” for the offending.

Murdoch had a drinking problem and was trying to take steps to address it, the court heard.

He had returned to Hervey Bay just before Christmas to spend time with his partner of 11 years and six children under six years of age but “fell off the wagon”.

The court heard Murdoch had past traumas that had caused the drinking, but he found it difficult to talk to people about it.

Magistrate Trinity McGarvie said Murdoch had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and accepted he was embarrassed and ashamed by his offending.

She said it was a serious example of public nuisance as no doubt his behaviour had caused fear to those around him.

“You were clearly grossly intoxicated at the time,” Ms McGarvie said.

Murdoch was given a head sentence of three months, with an immediate parole release date.

Convictions were recorded.

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Originally published as Vivian John Murdoch pleaded guilty to causing a public nuisance