Aiden Brown’s huge penalty for false emergency at Bayview Tower Motel

A man whose work Christmas party antics triggered the emergency evacuation of a Central Queensland motel in the early hours of the morning, has been hit with a huge penalty.

Bayview Tower Motel at Yeppoon.

A man has been hit with a huge monetary penalty after his work Christmas party antics caused the emergency evacuation of a Central Queensland motel in the early hours of the morning.

Aiden Jeffery John Brown, 26, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on Thursday to giving a false alarm of fire emergency and two counts of wilful damage.

The court heard that Brown, a soil technician, was staying as a guest at Bayview Tower Motel, Yeppoon, for his work Christmas party when he caused chaos in the early hours of December 8.

Police prosecutor Claudia Neill-Ballantine said during the night of December 7, Brown attempted to gain access to the hotel but its doors were locked because it was after hours.

“And (the hotel) was only accessible (to) guests through the use of a key,” Ms Neill-Ballantine said.

“Brown then kicked the glass door at the after-hours entry, causing the glass panel to smash ($660 worth of damage).”

Ms Neill-Ballantine said Brown then left the area but he returned to the hotel sometime after midnight.

She said Brown entered an enclosed area in the underground carpark.

“(He) continued to attempt to get access to the hotel,” Ms Neill-Ballantine said.

The prosecutor said during this process, Brown turned a switch off which caused the main staff fridge in the hotel to lose power.

That caused $278 worth of food and drink items including chicken breasts, rib fillets, milk and yoghurt to be ruined.

Yeppoon Courthouse.

Ms Neill-Ballantine said Brown then walked out of the enclosed area and approached a wall-mounted fire alarm in the underground carpark.

“(He) smashed a ‘break glass’ fire alarm, setting off the fire alarms to the hotel.”

Ms Neill-Ballantine said Brown then ran away from the motel with those inside, including guests, having to evacuate at 1.23am.

Police and firefighters attended the motel with the latter eventually establishing it was a “false alarm”, the court heard.

Ms Neill-Ballantine said the Fire Department call-out fee was $1456.10 and an estimate for the fire alarm replacement was $638.

The court heard that Brown had no similar offending on his criminal history.

Solicitor Oscar Millroy said Brown was “extremely remorseful” for his actions on the night and he was prepared to pay all of the $3032.10 restitution.

“He’s supported by his partner here in court today,” Mr Millroy said.

“In relation to the (offending), he (Brown) was in town (Yeppoon) with his partner, staying at Bayview Tower, staying there for a work Christmas party.

“They become separated and he was ultimately locked out of the motel and he was intoxicated.”

Mr Millroy said Brown’s criminal history was “limited and somewhat dated.”

Magistrate Lance Rundle fined Brown $500 and ordered he pay $3032.10 restitution.

No conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Aiden Brown’s huge penalty for false emergency at Bayview Tower Motel