Byron Lake, 20, pleads guilty to assaulting police at Toowoomba pub two days after last court date

High on ice and two days into his probation, a young man terrorised pub-goers, damaged cars, assaulted police and threatened a police dog.

Fitzy's Toowoomba.

Arriving in Toowoomba in a stolen car, a young man high on ice ravaged his way through Toowoomba’s CBD, jumping on parked cars and bullying man’s best friend.

Byron Lewis Lake, 20, appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court via video link pleading guilty to eight charges including assaulting a police officer, wilful damage, stealing and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

Police prosecutor Rohan Brewster-Webb told the court Lake was found on October 28 damaging cars near Fitzy’s in the Toowoomba CBD after illegally taking a car from Raceview earlier that day.

“He was jumping up on the roofs of vehicles parked in the middle of Margaret St,” he said.

“He was shouting obscenities towards persons, including police.”

Lake was ultimately taken down with capsicum spray after threatening a police dog.

“He made threats to kick the dog and so forth,” Mr Brewster-Webb said.

“He did cause some damage to the vehicles.”

At the time, Lake told police he was high on ice and it was discovered he had only two days earlier been sentenced in Kingaroy Magistrates Court to 12 months’ probation for multiple offences.

Solicitor Hamish Chapman said Lake had been sufficiently deterred from further offending after he was refused bail and forced to stay in custody for more than a fortnight.

“He just had 15 days in the tin … he’s never served imprisonment before,” Mr Patterson said.

“He’s had the very unfortunate experience of being capsicum sprayed.

“These past couple of days, effectively perhaps, can generously be described as a very bad day for Byron.”

Magistrate Mark Howden urged Lake to confront his evident drug problems.

“Only two days before this you were put on probation,” Mr Howden said.

“Two days later you used ice, you’ve stolen a vehicle and made a nuisance of yourself here in Toowoomba.”

Mr Lake was sentenced to 80 hours of community service and was disqualified from driving for six months. He was also ordered to pay $94.05 in retribution for stolen goods within two months.

No convictions were recorded.