Thomas Maxwell Hewson: Sober streak ruined by drunken disorderly incident

A drunk man who shouted racial slurs and profanities at police in front of children had left rehab after reaching 125 days sober, a Kalgoorlie court was told. Thomas Maxwell Hewson, 49, was intoxicated inside Red Rooster in Esperance on October 30 when police were called due to his disorderly behaviour. When police arrived and tried to issue him with a move-on notice, Hewson lingered in the area and yelled racial slurs at the officers. Motioning to undo his pants, Hewson gave officers a vulgar directive while children who had just finished school were nearby. Defence lawyer Will Reid told Kalgoorlie Magistrates Court Hewson had recently left an Esperance rehab facility after 125 days sober and was “doing what alcoholics do”. Mr Reid said Hewson had viewed the footage of his offending and apologised for his behaviour. He said Hewson also agreed he should go “straight back” to rehab. Magistrate Janie Gibbs said Hewson had “significant” convictions for disorderly behaviour on his record. “There are 10 or so convictions for disorderly here . . . no doubt that is related to your alcohol misuse,” she said. She granted him a 25 per cent discount to his sentence for his early plea of guilty and placed him on a six-month community-based order to help him get back on the road to recovery.