A Rokewood Shearer who punched a man in the face and pushed a publican in the chest at Lal Lal Falls Hotel was fined $1800 in Ballarat Magistrates Court today.
A SHEARER who punched a man in the face and pushed a country hotel owner in the chest after a long New Years Eve drinking session has faced court today.
Jamie Cameron, 28, from Rokewood, appeared in Ballarat Magistrates Court this morning where he pleaded guilty to two charges including unlawful assault and recklessly causing injury.
The court heard Cameron had been at the Lal Lal Falls Hotel on New Years Eve, 2011 and had been drinking heavily while celebrating a birthday with friends.
At around 1am on January 1, 2012 he was asked to leave by the hotel's licensee because of his intoxication, which he did.
The licensee escorted Cameron outside where the two exchanged words before Cameron pushed the licensee in the chest.
The court heard a number of other fights had broken out in the car-park of the hotel and Cameron became involved in an incident with another man.
The second victim had been trying to separate two women who were fighting on the ground, before Cameron approached the man and proceeded to punch him in the face.
Police prosecutor Michelle Kilburn said the man was lucky to receive a blood nose only.
Defence lawyer Patrick D'Arcy said his client "simply had too much to drink and overreacted to a situation."
"Clearly it was a very unusual day at the Lal Lal Hotel and my client is lucky that the victim of the punch only received a blood nose," Mr D'Arcy said.
He said his client was remorseful and ashamed.
In convicting Cameron and fining him $1500, magistrate Peter Couzens said the scenario had become too common.
"Many people are consuming too much alcohol, losing control of their temper, refusing to leave hotels and being antisocial," Mr Couzens said.
"You paint a picture of someone who drinks too much and becomes antisocial and the fine has to be significant."