Busselton man fined for attempted break-in to “beloved pub”

A Busselton man is facing a one-year ban from his “beloved local pub” after shoulder-charging the entrance gate lock to try and get back his phone he left inside hours earlier.

Robert Patrick Lewis appeared in Busselton Magistrates Court last Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to criminal damage and destruction of property at the Esplanade Hotel last month.

On April 30, Lewis attended the pub for a few drinks with his friend. When it came time to leave the pair accidentally left behind their phone and house keys.

Upon getting home and realising what happened the pair returned to the Esplanade Hotel which had since closed, locked-up for the night.

After his friend failed to climb the fence of the property, Lewis charged into the front gate breaking the lock “beyond repair”, an act caught on CCTV.

A week later, he returned to the facility where he was taken into the manager’s office and shown the footage. He apologised for his wrongdoing and offered to pay to fix the lock. He received a one-year ban from the hotel.

Lewis was fined $300 by the court and ordered to pay compensation of $270.