Darlinghurst man Ben Barbera sentenced after mooning police, urinating in Maroubra cell

A Darlinghurst man made a bizarre demand and threatened to “s--t” in a police cell before urinating all over it, having earlier dropped his dacks.

Ben Barbera, who urinated in a police cell. Picture: Tileah Dobson

Police were mooned by a drunk outside a bottle shop in Sydney’s east before they took him into custody, where he made a bizarre demand and proceeded to urinate all over a cell.

Ben Barbera, 45, faced Waverley Local Court on Wednesday, when he was sentenced to an 18-month community correction order after pleading guilty to multiple charges that included assaulting police.

The other charges included two counts of resisting arrest, damaging property, behaving in an offensive manner, refusing to comply with police directions and re-entering a venue as an excluded person.

Ben Barbera, 45, outside court on Wednesday. Picture: Tileah Dobson

Documents tendered to the court state staff at the Maroubra Bottlemart refused Barbera alcohol about 10.40pm on March 16, due to his level of intoxication.

The Darlinghurst man became aggressive and abusive towards a security guard at the neighbouring Maroubra Hotel. He eventually walked across the road to continue shouting.

Court documents state plain-clothes police saw the incident and spoke with Barbera, noticing he was glassy-eyed, reeked of grog and was slurring his speech.

Police issued a move-on order and warned him to not be near the premises for six hours.

However, the offender returned to the bottle shop shortly after 11pm to resume his abusive tirade toward staff and security.

Barbera told police when approached he “just wanted to buy alcohol and go home”, before trying to flee the scene.

As he ran off, bystanders saw Barbera drop his pants and moon the officers before booking it.

The offender was caught by the officers, but not before an initial struggle to get him in the back of the police vehicle.

At Maroubra Police Station, Barbera was in a holding cell when, shortly after 2am, he demanded: “Give me a tea or I will shit and piss in your cell.”

Documents state despite being offered to move to a different cell with a toilet in it, Barbera refused to move and urinated in the cell.

Ben Barbera’s actions were slammed by the court for causing everyone ‘so much grief’. Picture: Thomas Lisson

In court on Wednesday, magistrate Michael Barko slammed Barbera for “causing everyone so much grief”.

“He resisted police, started kicking at them (and) then caused havoc at the police station while still in custody,” Barko said.

“He then urinated and police had to spend money on a specialist to clean up the urine.

“No doubt (the) police were none too happy about his behaviour.”

Mr Barko also warned Barbera about the impact his behaviour could have on his family, stating his kids should be “the number one priority”.

“The kids will be saying ‘Why do we have to travel so far to see dad?’ and ‘Why does he wear green?’ and ‘Why is he behind bars?’” Mr Barko said.

In addition to the community correction order, Mr Barko also ordered Barbera to pay four fines totalling $990.

Originally published as Darlinghurst man Ben Barbera sentenced after mooning police, urinating in Maroubra cell