Court told knife taken into nightclub

A man who pulled a 15cm to 20 cm knife from his pants in a group scuffle outside Vibe nightclub has been fined $800.

Glenn Raymond Cooper, 32, exited Vibe at 3:50am on February 21 and entered a crowd of people who were having a dispute.

Cooper became engaged in the dispute and then pulled out the knife he had been concealing in his pants, held it out and said “come on then, you c***s”.

In Geraldton Magistrate’s Court last week, Cooper pleaded guilty to being armed in a way that could cause fear.

Cooper’s defence counsel conceded Cooper involved himself in the dispute, but said he only drew the knife when the group then rushed him.

Counsel said Cooper had previously been the victim of a mob attack that had left him in hospital, which was why he was carrying the knife for protection, but he now understood the problems with his thinking.

Magistrate Donna Webb was appalled Cooper had entered and remained inside the nightclub while carrying a weapon.