Jeremy Stafford Warner pleads guilty to attempted unlawful use of a vehicle

Police were forced to taser a man in a regional city besieged by unruly behaviour when he went on a rampage at a family restaurant and tried to force his way into a woman’s car.

Jeremy Stafford Warner, 28, pleaded guilty to public nuisance offences, obstructing police and attempted unlawful use of a motor vehicle when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The terrifying and violent behaviour of a drunk man at a family Mexican restaurant in the heart of Maryborough forced police to eventually taser and contain him.

The man threw chairs and a table in the alfresco dining area of Guzman Y Gomez in Alice Street, before trying to get into the car of another woman when she pulled into the restaurant car park.

Jeremy Stafford Warner, 28, pleaded guilty to public nuisance offences, obstructing police and attempted unlawful use of a motor vehicle when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The court heard on December 27, 2024, Warner had gone to the “outside area” of the Guzman y Gomez restaurant in Alice St, Maryborough.

He attended the alfresco dining area of the restaurant, and began yelling at customers, entering the front section and picking up two chairs, throwing them in the direction of the front door.

One of the chairs hit the door, but Warner did not cause any damage, the court heard.

He then threw a table across the dining area and a woman approached him, trying to calm him down.

Warner then walked across the carpark before returning to the restaurant, causing some fear to customers who had gathered their children inside, the court heard.

He was escorted away by staff members and the unknown woman, the court heard.

When Warner left the car park, he approached a blue Mazda by standing in the middle of the road.

The car was trying to go into the car park of the restaurant, but Warner walked in an “aggressive and agitated manner” to the passenger side, trying to open the front passenger door, the court was told.

Police were forced to taser a man in Maryborough when he went on a rampage at Guzman Y Gomez, throwing furniture and trying to force his way into a woman’s car.

He then shook the handle “wildly” and tapped on the glass, causing the driver to become fearful of Warner, the court heard.

She drove off towards the intersection of Alice and John St, going through a red light to get away from him.

Warner then left, walking towards Alice St to the intersection with Lennox St where police saw him walking in the middle of the road.

Police told him to stop where he was, but Warner continued towards the police car.

The court heard police repositioned themselves, reversed the vehicle, then got out and told Warner he was under arrest and needed to get on the ground.

When he failed to do that, and continued walking towards the police, he was tasered and taken to the watch house.

Warner had five pages of criminal history, the court was told.

Duty lawyer Morgan Harris said the issue for Warner had been excessive alcohol consumption but he had since completed community-based orders and was now dry of alcohol.

Magistrate John Milburn placed Warner on 18 months probation and ordered he do 50 hours community service.

“Your behaviour is not acceptable in any way,” he said.

“Maryborough’s reputation being a place where people are unruly in the streets is becoming widely known. It needs to stop, but it needs your personal commitment.”

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Jeremy Stafford Warner pleads guilty to attempted unlawful use of a vehicle