Boyup Brook man fined for alcohol-fuelled outburst following drunken phone call with magistrate

A South West man who had a drunken phone call with a magistrate and tried to plead guilty to a string of charges has been fined after admitting to them in court. Charles Owens, 41, brandished a 35cm hunting knife in public a few days after a verbal outburst at the Boyup Brook Hotel. On May 27, Owens tried to order a drink from the pub, which he had been banned from entering, but was told to leave by staff. He left but then returned almost immediately before again refusing demands that he leave. Staff eventually escorted Owens from the hotel and locked the door behind him causing the intoxicated man to shout and swear at staff and patrons for the next 30 minutes. During the outburst, Owens picked up an empty beer keg and attempted to walk to the door with it before patrons stopped him. Police were called but Owens left before they arrived. On June 3, Owens brandished a serrated 35cm hunting knife outside a shopping centre in the centre of Boyup Brook. The court was told that police were immediately contacted by shoppers who felt Owens may use the knife on himself or others. The Boyup Brook man was found intoxicated by police at the Boyup Brook Hotel where he was arrested and taken to Bunbury Hospital to undergo psychiatric tests. He was originally due to appear in Manjimup Magistrates Court last month, but instead left a message for the magistrate to call his neighbour’s mobile phone. When the magistrate called, Owens attempted to plead guilty to the charges but was told he was clearly too intoxicated to understand the charges. Owens finally appeared in court on September 2 when Magistrate Michelle Pontifex fined him $500 for failing to leave the Boyup Brook Hotel, $300 for disorderly behaviour and another $500 for brandishing a knife in a public setting. Owens told Ms Pontifex he thought he was doing quite well with his alcohol addiction. “Lately, I haven’t been drinking that much,” he said.