Te Arapa Harrison: Albany shearer and ex-martial arts fighter sentenced to nine months for Narrogin fight

A former martial arts fighter who threw a can at a bartender and wielded a pool cue in a threatening manner in a Narrogin pub has been sentenced to a nine-month conditional suspended imprisonment order. Te Arapa Harrison, 37, appeared in Albany Magistrates Court on Thursday on charges of being armed, assault, and failing to leave a licensed premise when ordered. He previously pleaded guilty on December 18. Police prosecutor Sgt Warrick Walker told the court how Harrison, a shearer and former martial arts fighter, was drinking at The New Cornwall Hotel on September 28 when he became belligerent towards the manager who was also bartending about 9.26pm. Harrison was told to leave after he threw a can of White Claw at the man’s face, causing bruising and swelling around his eye. As he was escorted out, Harrison picked up a pool cue, threatening patrons and challenging the manager to a fight. Harrison’s lawyer Sonya Anderson sought any term of imprisonment to be conditionally suspended. Ms Anderson said an “intoxicated” Harrison was afraid he might have to defend himself after seeing a staff member pick up a knife as he was escorted out. The incident was captured on mobile phone footage. Ms Anderson said Harrison is not a regular drinker but binge drinks every few months and has ongoing trauma from witnessing the murder of his cousin in a violent gang fight when he was 20. “When he’s wound up, he feels he needs to fight or he might die,” Ms Anderson said. Sgt Walker said the use of the pool cue “escalated the situation”. Harrison has previously been convicted of assault for three other incidents. Magistrate Dianne Scaddan said Harrison’s intoxication meant his perception of his back-and-forth with the manager was “off-kilter” and “clouded”. “You don’t get to throw a can at someone, you also don’t get to pick up a pool cue and threaten someone,” she said. “Men and violence is clearly problematic to the community and to the court. “That’s an attitude, Mr Harrison, and you have full control of that.” Harrison was sentenced to nine months imprisonment, conditionally suspended for 15 months with supervision and program requirements. He was also ordered to pay $400 for failing to leave a licensed premise when ordered. “We’ll find out pretty quickly if you’re a man of your word or if we’ve been sold a lemon,” Ms Scaddan said.