“You’re drinking in the last chance saloon”

Friday 14 May 2021

A man celebrating the end of lockdown found himself sentenced to community service after refusing to leave Fusion and resisting police officers.

Kaspars Strazdins, 33, was asked to leave Fusion Nightclub in the early hours of 23 March. He didn’t agree that he was “too intoxicated” and ended up being restrained by four door staff on the floor.

Police officers on duty were called to the nightclub just before 02:00 and a complaint was made against Strazdins by Fusion staff. He was subsequently arrested.

During his arrest Strazdins thrashed his legs around and shouted at the officers, while they asked him to stop resisting.

It took all four members of staff and the two officers to detain him.

Pictured: Strazdins was sentenced in the Magistrates’ Court.

Defending, Duty Advocate Phoebe Cobb said Strazdins had felt hard done by after being asked to leave the nightclub.

His probation report indicated Strazdins had a low likelihood of re-offending and was a pro-social member of the community.

“You cannot get credit for previous good character,” countered Judge Graeme McKerrell during sentencing, referring to Strazdins being sentenced to 100 hours of community service in 2019 for assault.

To get his point across, Judge McKerrell repeated: “You are very much drinking in the last chance saloon,” twice to Strazdins' translator, who was not familiar with the phrase. 

He was sentenced to another 100 hours of community service as a direct alternative to six weeks in prison.