An Illawarra bikie on bail over his alleged involvement in two pub brawls in less than three months has had his nighttime curfew hours reduced.
Matthew Douet, the alleged secretary of the Comancheros South Coast chapter, is facing two affray charges stemming from incidents at the Central Hotel in Shellharbour in July and the Shell Cove Tavern in October last year.
Douet has since been granted bail which includes a condition that he abide by a curfew requiring him to be home between 8pm and 6am every night. (The morning curfew has since been reduced to 4am to allow Douet to leave early for work).
However, defence lawyer Mahmoud Abbas made a second application in Wollongong Local Court on Thursday to have Douet’s curfew removed entirely. Police opposed the application, saying there was a concern if Douet was allowed to go out at night he would continue to offend.
However, Mr Abbas noted due to COVID-19 restrictions, no licensed premises were open for Douet to attend. Magistrate Michael Stoddart refused to remove the curfew but agreed to make the start time 10.30pm rather than 8pm.
Documents previously tendered in court reveal Douet was watchintg a boxing match with friends at the Central Hotel on July 21 when he approached the victim and said “I heard you’re in the Reich”. The 51-year-old man said he wasn’t, at which time Douet allegedly told him he was in the Comancheros then ordered the victim to buy him a beer.
When the victim refused, Douet punched him in the head, causing him to fall to the ground. Douet was arrested a few days later but told officers “I don’t even remember, I was so drunk”.
In the October incident, Douet is alleged to have punched a man in the face then tackled him to the ground in an unprovoked attack in the TAB room of the Shell Cove Tavern. The pair are seen to grapple with each other before the fight is broken up by security.
Douet, who has pleaded not guilty to both charges, had been due to face a hearing in May, however his case has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The case will return to court in September for a new hearing date to be set.
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Source: Illawara Mercury