Australind teenager Jamie Thomas Downes fined $800, granted spent conviction for disorderly behaviour in Perth

An Australind teenager has been fined and granted a spent conviction after behaving in a disorderly manner when he was refused entry to a Perth bar having attended an AFL match earlier in the day. Jamie Thomas Downes, 19, appeared in Bunbury Magistrate’s Court on July 13 and was fined a total of $800 after pleading guilty to charges of disorderly behaviour in public and obstructing public officers. The court was told Downes was out with friends in the Northbridge area on June 24 when he tried to enter Henry Summer, a wine and cocktail bar. When he was refused entry after security deemed him too intoxicated, Downes became verbally aggressive towards the security staff, calling them “f...ing c...s”. Police were called to the area to intervene and tell Downes to move on, only for him to turn his aggression towards officers. The court was told it took multiple officers to apprehend Downes, who refused to comply with their directions. It was submitted, via duty counsel, that Downes had attended the round 15 AFL match between Fremantle and Essendon at Optus Stadium, where he had several alcoholic beverages prior to trying to gain entry into Henry Summer later in the evening. Downes took responsibility for the offending, admitting that he was “being a d...head” that night. In sentencing, Magistrate Benjamin Tyers said it was sad to see so many examples of drunken behaviour in areas like Northbridge and told Downes that security stationed at the entry of licensed premises have the authority, not him. Mr Tyers also said it was “wholly unacceptable” for Downes to obstruct police from doing their job. Because of Downes’ age and the fact he had no prior criminal history, a spent conviction order was granted.