Gary Owen, 51, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court to assaulting police, making threats and offensive behaviour. 

He was jailed for 14 days, with seven days already served, and fined $700.

Magistrate Cynthia Toose said similar evidence was heard all too regularly​ ​in court, involving substance influenced people behaviour inappropriately in or near licensed premises. 

She said being eccentric was someone’s right but when their lifestyle impacted on others in the community, causing fear, that led to police involvement. 

The magistrate warned Owen if he kept coming back to court for similar offending then jail terms imposed would just get longer​ and longer​.

Police said that at 3.50pm on April 12 Owen was at Hamilton’s Grand Cental Hotel under the influence of ice.

He asked for a glass of water, a staff member asked if he wanted ice, and Owen produced his own bag of crystal methyamphetamine. 

“Do you want some?” he asked.

Owen then become aggressive and erratic, threatening to kill the staff​ member​.

At 4.06pm police arrived and found Owen in the front bar of the hotel.

He was acting erratically and had fresh scars on his arms and face, ​indicating ice use.

Owen was asked to leave the hotel, but continued to act aggressively, yelling obscenities and gesturing rudely to members of the public.

Officers believed he was preparing to assault police, they subdued him by spraying him with capsicum foam and called for back up.

Owen was eventually arrested and handcuffed. 

He as found with .4 grams of ice and two uncapped syringes.

Defence counsel Jack Rabl said his client did not intend to cause fear, but was reckless or careless.

He said Owen had a misapprehension about his right​s​ when dealing with police.

“He’s itinerant, eccentric and idiosyncratic. His drug use led to his behaviour,” he said, submitted the seven days Owen had spent in custody was a suitable penalty.

Mr Rabl said Owen had been assaulted numerous times in the past while in custody.