A 25-year-old man claims he can’t remember why he aimed a coward’s punch at a Murphy’s Irish Pub staff member after he was kicked out.
Mason Raymond Frost pleaded guilty in Mandurah Magistrates Court last Tuesday to common assault.
The court was told Frost was evicted from the pub at 11.15pm on March 25 for antisocial behaviour.
Frost began arguing with staff members out the front of the establishment when he punched the 59-year-old victim to the right-hand side of his face, causing him to fall over.
Frost’s lawyer Damien Cripps said his client was an alcoholic who “doesn’t want to be this person”.
“He was ejected from the pub but doesn’t really know why,” he said.
“Two security guards grabbed his arms and twisted them behind his back; he then got into an altercation.”
Mr Cripps said his client had been alcohol-free for four months and 20 days after the incident.
“He is embarrassed and remorseful and plans to never drink again,” he said.
Mr Cripps applied for a spent conviction. Frost had received a spent conviction for a similar offence five years earlier.
Magistrate Leanne Atkins denied the spent conviction, saying the offence was not trivial.
“I’m dealing with this man at the age of 25 for assaulting a man aged 59 who was doing his job at Murphy’s bar,” she said.
“To your credit, you recognise you have a problem with alcohol.
“So many young people fly back from a FIFO shift, have a skinful and get violent.”
Ms Atkins fined Frost $1500 to be paid to the victim.