A young woman, afforded a number of chances by Toowoomba police for her unruly behaviour during nights out on the town, has fronted court for assaulting the manager of a popular pub. On Monday, April 13, Toowoomba Magistrates Court was told hospitality worker Sarah Annaleise Spencer went off the rails when she was refused entry to the Federal Hotel about 1.39am on March 15. Police prosecutor Rowan Brewster-Webb told the court the abusive, violent, and destructive behaviour of the 25-year-old was instigated by her refusal to leave the licensed venue. Mr Brewster-Webb said when Spencer failed to provide valid identification and was asked to leave, she then walked into the gaming room, where security again asked her to leave. When she was escorted outside, he said she became agitated and aggressive to the point that the venue manager had to intervene. “Who asked you? What are you doing here?” the court was told Spencer asked the senior staff member. Mr Brewster-Webb said Spencer began following the manager around the carpark. When the Federal Hotel manager began running, Spencer chased them down, hitting them in the back of the head. While a security guard intervened, the manager fled inside the gaming room, locking the door behind her. Mr Brewster-Webb said Spencer broke free and tried to break into the venue, to the point she smashed a glass panel on the door with her bare hands. “F–k off, I’m going to kill you,” she told a security guard. “Let me in, I’ll punch everyone. I can do a lot.” Before taking off on foot, the young mum got inside a security guard’s 2012 Honda Accord, where she tipped bottles of drink out, before exiting and smashing the glass of a side mirror. Patrolling police arrested her about an hour later after taking statements from staff. Mr Brewster-Webb said Spencer had no entries on her criminal history, however police had issued her with a number of tickets for similar behaviour in 2023 and 2024, which occurred inside or near licensed venues. One ticket was for disorderly conduct, another for “violent behaviour,” and obstructing police, Mr Brewster-Webb said. Skuse Graham Criminal Lawyers co-partner Brad Skuse told the court in the lead up to the alcohol fuelled incident, the cafe and restaurant worker was not feeling well mentally. On the night in question, he said Spencer was drinking heavily, as she was celebrating the return of her close friend to Toowoomba. Mr Skuse said his instructions were that Spencer did not have an issue with alcohol, and rarely drank to excess, however when she did, she was aware she behaved “inappropriately”. Spencer pleaded guilty to assault, public nuisance, entering a venue and committing an offence, and two counts of wilful damage, and was placed on an eight-month probation order. Given it was her first criminal offence, no convictions were recorded.
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