A Riverside man's drunken decision to engage in a violent struggle with police and tell officers he was a Hollywood movie star has cost him $400.
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Nicholas Kurt Johnson, 25, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, stating a false name and resisting police charges when he faced Launceston Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Johnson first came to the attention of police about 7.25pm on December 20 last year after he was allegedly involved in a disturbance incident at the Grand Chancellor Hotel.
Police prosecutor Matt Hill said Johnson fled the scene with a torn short and stumbled around Launceston's central business district where he swore and yelled loudly.
When police approached Johnson on George Street he told officers his name was John Travolta.
Johnson got into a violent struggle with police and grabbed and officer forcefully around the head and neck, the court heard.
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When police put him on the ground, Johnson bucked wildly and thrashed around.
In court Johnson did not dispute the police version of events, but he said the full story wasn't told.
"I'd been punched a few times before they arrived," Johnson said.
"It's just weird that they [police] didn't state that at all but that's all good".
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Magistrate Ken Stanton said while Johnson's behaviour was out of character, it was inexcusable.
"You continued to resist when you were placed to the ground," the magistrate told Johnson.
"You were intoxicated at the time but that's no excuse."
Johnson was convicted and fined $400.