September 11, 2012
A drunken spectator whose behaviour was so bad that a referee had to stop a junior rugby league match was sentenced to 80 hours unpaid community service when he appeared in Murgon Magistrates Court today.
Police Prosecutor Sgt Pepe Gangemi said Alfred James Fisher, 37, swore at the referee, spectators and police and refused to move on despite warnings from police.
The incident occurred on June 2 at Murgon Sportsground.
Fisher pleaded guilty to committing a public nuisance. He was on a suspended sentence at the time after being convicted of other offences earlier this year.
Solicitor Mark Oliver, for Fisher, said his clients’ actions had been clouded by alcohol. He had turned up at the ground expecting to play football but was “extremely inebriated”.
“In his eyes he was barracking for his team, unfortunately he was using expletives,” Mr Oliver said.
He realised now what what he had done was unacceptable and was remorseful for his actions.
“When the brief was read today he realised how inebriated he was at the time,” Mr Oliver said.
Magistrate Mark Bucknall said people should not have to put up with behaviour like this at a football match.
As well as the community service, he ordered that the operational period of Fisher’s suspended sentence be extended a further six months. A conviction was recorded.
