Two Victorian men have narrowly escaped jail over a brawl outside a Merimbula bar that left a security guard in hospital.
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Gary Kramme, of Lakes Entrance, and Michael Richmond, of Toorloo Arm, confessed to kicking and punching the guard in an alcohol-fuelled assault at Dulcie’s Cottage on July 23.
Bega Local Court heard the two men were visiting the town with their girlfriends for the weekend and had been drinking alcohol throughout the evening when they arrived at Dulcie’s about 10.40pm.
However, the pair were denied entry by the guard due to their level of intoxication.
They were approached by another patron who asked for a cigarette, but Kramme said no. He and Richmond walked to the Merimbula RSL Club, but returned to Dulcie’s a short time later at which time Kramme and the male patron who had earlier asked for a cigarette got into an argument.
The altercation escalated into a physical fight with Kramme and the victim trading blows. Richmond then joined in and the guard, who had earlier denied them entry, was set upon when he tried to stop the brawl.
Kramme and Richmond pushed the guard against a white picket fence, causing him to fall to the ground. He tried to cover himself with his arms as the Victorians repeatedly kicked him. Bystanders eventually pulled the pair away from the guard. Kramme and Richmond were then subjected to assaults themselves from the bystanders. Emergency services arrived a short time later and the guard was taken to the Bega hospital.
Police later charged Kramme and Richmond with assaulting the guard, while the latter was also charged with assaulting the patron who asked for a cigarette.
Appearing in court on August 23, the two men pleaded guilty to their respective charges, but their lawyer said they disputed portions of the police facts.
Magistrate Doug Dick said the court could accept there was always two sides to a story, but the incident appeared to be “all over a cigarette”.
Kramme was fined $1000, Richmond fined $2000 and both handed a 12-month suspended prison sentence.