“I find this sort of behaviour - alcohol-fuelled on the streets of Young late at night - pisses me off,” a local magistrate told two brothers who stood before him.
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Ethan Richens, 25, and Gerard Richens, 22, of Young appeared in Young Local Court on April 5 following an episode with police when they found 10 people loitering, drinking alcohol on the corner of Thornhill and Miro streets in the early hours of February 21.
Ethan was charged with refusing to comply with directions of police and resist officer in the execution of duty, and Gerard with wilfully obstruct officer in the execution of duty.
“The police were very patient with them,” magistrate Peter Dare SC said.
“They’ve got to learn a lesson, you pick a fight with police you’ll never win.”
Mr Dare looked at Ethan and said “you’re going to have to pull your socks up young fella...this is a repeated performance, you and I know that”.
The brothers were given a 12 month good behaviour bond each.
Their co-accused Jacob Paterson, also of Young, was also charged in relation to the incident and appeared in Young Court on April 19, pleading guilty to intimidating a police officer in the execution of duty.
The 21-year-old was placed on an 18 month good behaviour bond.
According to police facts tendered in court, police were patrolling Thornhill Street about 1.30am and saw a group of people lingering at the intersection, and appeared to all be drinking.
The noise, disorderly behaviour and time of the morning forced police to stop to issue move on directions.
“I can’t (move),” Ethan told them, “the police car is in the way.”
He was given a second move on direction, to which he repeated “the police car is in the way”.
Police exited their car, giving a third and final direction.
“Why? We’ve done nothing wrong,” Ethan said as he proceeded to drink from a can of alcohol he was holding.
He was told to dispose of the can, as officers prepared to search him.
Gerard pushed past one officer, standing between them and grabbed the left arm of the other, causing him to lose grip of Ethan.
He began “shaping up” to police, who sprayed him with capsicum spray out of fear of an assault.
Ethan moved to the middle of the road, turning towards the officer with both arms raised and fists clenched, where he was capsicum sprayed.
