EIGHTEENTH birthday celebrations at an Irish pub turned ugly for a Townsville teenager after he was refused entry, threw punches at security guards and then fled - launching a city-wide manhunt.
The Townsville Bulletin reported Magistrate Ross Mack jokingly remarked, when sentencing Tyson Gregory Long-Southwood who pleaded guilty yesterday in the Townsville Magistrates Court to acting in a disorderly manner, that the teenager's next big milestone birthday would be one not to miss.
"Well Mr Gregory I cannot wait until your 21st celebrations," the magistrate said with a laugh after hearing of his 18th birthday escapades.
"That will be a real humdinger."
Police prosecutor Mark Fenlon told the court the birthday boy from Gumlow started striking out at security after he was refused entry into Irish Finnegans on High Range Rd on August 13 this year at 10.45pm.
"There was a verbal altercation with security guards, he acted aggressively and then wrestled violently with them."
The prosecutor said Long-Southwood ran into the nearby Sunland Plaza after police were called.
Townsville's tactical crime squad responded and launched a full scale patrol of the area after they obtained a description of the intoxicated offender from CCTV footage and pub staff.
"Police spotted the defendant shortly after on Riverway Dve in a vacant block hiding in long grass with other males," Mr Fenlon said.
However the defendant did not go quietly into custody - officers had to leave their patrol car and run after Long-Southwood and his friends.
"They yelled out 'Police, police don't move, get down on the ground' but the teenagers continued to run away," he said.
"The defendant was captured and restrained but could give no reason or excuse as to why he fled and was taken into custody at the watch house."
Duty lawyer Anna Farmer argued her client had turned 18 on the day he was arrested and was out celebrating at a licensed premises for the first time.
"He was drinking with friends and he helped put one in a taxi outside the pub but was refused back in," she said.
"He acted foolishly towards the guards, then panicked and ran when police got involved."
Ms Farmer said there was some confusion on her client's part, as the new pub-goer did not understand the rules of a licensed premises.
"But he now knows that security guards have the right to refuse people entry," she said.
Long-Southwood was given a six-month $450 good behaviour bond.
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