A BUNBURY man has been fined $500 after he was arrested chanting “Tony Abbott is an a***hole” while out for a night on the town.
Police arrested Matthew David Rooke on May 10 at 2.35am outside Fitzgeralds Irish Bar and charged him with one count of disorderly behaviour in public.
Prosecutor Sergeant Brian McCormack told the Bunbury Magistrates Court that Rooke was intoxicated and when police asked him to stop chanting his language got worse.
He said Rooke was arrested and put into a cell overnight to sober up.
Magistrate Paul Heaney told Rooke that even if what he was chanting was true, it was not a defence.
Prime Minister Abbott has come under fire a number of times in recent weeks for public gaffes including winking on camera during an interview with a pensioner who spoke about becoming a phone sex worker and referring to Canada as ‘Canadia’ in a speech while visiting the country.
Defence lawyer Max Owens said Rooke could only remember parts of the night and woke up in a cell.
“Mr Rooke saw the federal budget on the Tuesday [before the incident] and did not like it and believes the events the police have stated likely occurred,” Mr Owens said.
“He remembers waking up in a cell and is sorry to anyone he upset or offended.”
Mr Rooke had no prior record and was granted a spent conviction meaning he does not have a criminal record.