Samuel Peter Jensen banned from an Emerald pub for king-hitting a patron after drinking 19 beers

A man has been banned from a popular Emerald hotel after king-hitting a patron there on a night out with work mates. He had already been removed from the pub before the assault.

A man has been banned from a popular Emerald hotel after king-hitting a patron there on a night out with work mates.

Samuel Peter Jensen, 29, pleaded guilty in Biloela Magistrates Court on October 13 to assault occasioning bodily harm in public while affected by an intoxicating substance.

The court heard that on September 18, about 11.40pm, Jensen was at The Irish Village, Emerald, with friends when he was removed from the licensed premises by security.

After that, Jensen re-entered the venue and walked directly towards the male victim and threw “a heavy right-handed, closed fist punch” to the rear, right side of his head.

The victim reacted just quickly enough to block the strike.

“The punch hit the victim in the right forearm area,” the prosecution said.

“The impact was so strong it has thrown the victim to the floor, into a nearby table.”

The victim sustained bruising as a result of the punch impact and he also suffered pain in his forearm and back due to contacting the table.

After the assault, Jensen, who had earlier been refused service at The Irish Village due to his level of intoxication, left the venue.

Police issued a social media post in a bid to find the offender.

Jensen subsequently attended Biloela Police Station after he recognised his photo on that post.

During an interview, Jensen told police that he did not recall the incident as he was highly intoxicated at the time.

He further stated that he had consumed about 19 beers on the night.

Police showed Jensen CCTV vision from the venue and he admitted that it was him in the footage.

Samuel Peter Jensen.

In court, the prosecution made a banning order submission.

Jensen’s solicitor said Jensen lived in Biloela, was a father of two, and he worked for a local electrical contractor.

He attended primary school at Gin Gin and high school at St Luke’s Anglican School in Bundaberg.

After leaving school he completed an electrical apprenticeship at Bundaberg and Gladstone.

Jensen and his family moved to Biloela about three years ago for Jensen’s employment with an electrical contractor.

“On the day of the offence, Mr Jensen was working in Emerald for that contractor and he was there with some work colleagues,” his solicitor said.

“They were staying overnight after working all day - it was a Saturday night.

“They found themselves at The Irish Village at around 11(pm) after dining at another venue and he does recall drinking heavily.

“He is relying on his work colleagues and a video the police have shown him because he has no recollection of what occurred at The Irish Village.

“He has no recollection of being asked to leave.”

Jensen’s solicitor said this behaviour was out of character for Jensen who “rarely drinks to the extent he did that night”.

“He’d be lucky to go through a six-pack of beer in a week - he doesn’t drink regularly.”

Two references were tendered to the court on Jensen’s behalf.

“Mr Jensen is ashamed and embarrassed at himself,” his solicitor said.

“He would very much like to tender an apology to the victim - he only received a QP9 this morning to know who that victim is.”

The court was told that Jensen had no previous criminal history.

Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale said Jensen’s early guilty plea demonstrated remorse.

“The fact that you’ve got to your age with nothing in your history is a significant matter for me to take into account, and demonstrates that it is in fact, out of character,” she said.

Ms Beckinsale also noted that Jensen had a “glowing” reference from his employer.

“You’re obviously someone thought of highly, and this night is a one-off, I accept.”

Ms Beckinsale reminded Jensen of the “one punch can kill” message.

She fined Jensen $1000, ordered he perform 40 hours of community service, and she banned him from The Irish Village for 12 months.

No conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Samuel Peter Jensen banned from an Emerald pub for king-hitting a patron after drinking 19 beers