Sean Burr pleads guilty to pulling knife on Airbnb host over lost bag

An aspiring fly in fly out worker has pulled a knife on a short-term accommodation host who was going to turnover his lost property to police.

Sean Elliott Burr faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Picture: Sam Turner

An Image Flat man has escaped a conviction after causing a drugged out crash and drawing a large knife in front of an Airbnb host over a lost bag.

Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard how Sean Elliott Burr could not even recall the frightening incident where he pulled a knife on a stranger over an innocuous lost item at home-stay accommodation on December 17 last year.

The 22-year-old heard the outcome for his crimes after pleas of guilty to two counts of drug driving and one of going armed to cause fear on Wednesday.

Police prosecutor Stephen Potter said Burr’s offences began on December 16 last year when authorities were called to a car crash at Maroochydore.

Sergeant Potter said the 22-year-old told police he believed another driver was following him at the time of the crash.

He then tested positive for drugs.

Burr was then routinely intercepted on January 1, where he again returned a positive result for drugs.

The police prosecutor said Burr admitted to police he was a “heavy user”.

Burr outside court. Picture: Sam Turner

The most serious offence however occurred on December 17 last year at Maroochydore where the victim, who operates an Airbnb, located a bag which they intended to hand in to police.

Sergeant Potter said Burr however approached and drew a large knife which was only centimetres away from them.

Defence solicitor Amelia Walters said it was not alleged he made any threatening remarks, and there was no evidence before the court to suggest there was psychological harm to the victim or witness.

Ms Walters also claimed there were no allegations Burr damaged the Airbnb which was noted, but was instructed he was affected by drugs at the time.

She said he no longer hung out with those friends anymore.

Ms Walters said Burr previously struggled with drugs, however stated the charges were a “wake up call” for him, and he knew his behaviour was not condoned by society.

She said he obtained a mental health and rehabilitation plan and had work coming up as a fly-in-fly-out worker in western Queensland.

He pleaded guilty. Picture: Sam Turner

The lawyer then pushed for no conviction to be recorded, saying it would affect his future job prospects and social wellbeing.

Magistrate Rod Madsen however grappled with this submission and said the community was entitled to know what was happening at court, and to “bring home” to those who faced court their offending was “concerning” to the public.

“And he pulled a knife on somebody, and you say there was no impact on them ... what about the people he pulled a knife out in front of … for no good reason other than to say ‘he was using drugs’,” Mr Madsen said.

Mr Madsen ultimately opted not to convict Burr and accepted the 22-year-old’s remorse. He placed him on an 18 month probation order.

He was also disqualified from driving for three months.

Originally published as Sean Burr pleads guilty to pulling knife on Airbnb host over lost bag