Curfew: Replica Firearm In Gold Coast Nightclub

The mother of a man charged over allegedly threatening a Surfers Paradise nightclub patron with a fake handgun told a court she would ‘tie up’ her son so he did not break his curfew.

Jim Stokes, 23, of Surfers Paradise, was granted bail in Southport Magistrates Court yesterday on strict conditions, including that he live with his mother, abide by a 9pm curfew and stay out of the Surfers Paradise nightclub precinct.

During the application, magistrate Robert Quinlan asked Mr Stokes’ mother if she agreed to make sure her son would be home before 9pm.

“I’ll tie him up,” she announced to the court.

Acting Senior Sergeant Brian Cazzulino had opposed bail due to the seriousness of the allegations.

He said police allege Mr Stokes approached a man who was talking to a woman in Cocktails and Dreams nightclub around 12.25am yesterday and produced the gun.

“He walked up and pulled the gun out from his pants. He displayed it in the clear view of other patrons and pointed the barrel at the man’s chest with his finger on the trigger,” he said.

“He allegedly told the man to ‘(expletive) off … or else’.”

Act Sen-Sergeant Cazzulino said Mr Stokes allegedly told the complainant that it was a real gun.

Mr Stokes has been charged with going armed to cause fear, possession of a weapon while under the influence of liquor and common assault.

His solicitor Mark Williams from Potts Lawyers said his client had consumed an entire bottle of rum and was on medication.

He said his client had been troubled by a relationship which had recently ended.

Mr Williams said the woman at the nightclub was not Mr Stokes’ ex-girlfriend.

“He allegedly got himself intoxicated and committed this offence of stupidity,” he said.

The matter has been listed for a committal hearing on July 21.