Man who put acid in lube dispenser at gay club avoids jail

A man has been spared jail after he put hydrochloric acid into a lube dispenser at a Sydney gay club.

Hengky Irawan, 62, went to the Aarows club in Rydalmere as a customer in August, taking with him a bottle of acid, funnel and knife, Parramatta Local Court heard yesterday.

He filled a lubricant dispenser with the acid but set off an alarm when he tried to open the dispenser, breaking a security seal and notifying club staff.

The court was told he was angry because he had been kicked out of the club earlier in the year.

He was charged with administering poisons with intent to cause pain, entering a licensed premises to commit an indictable offence and intentionally or recklessly damaging the dispenser.

Mr Irawan was also accused of driving on a suspended driver’s licence.

His lawyer said that he suffered from mental illness and was undergoing medical consultations.

Police prosecutor Nathan Blatch told the court the incident was a "textbook example of motivation for hatred of people".

However, Magistrate Beverley Schurr was not convinced it was a hate crime and handed Mr Irawan a two-year good behaviour bond.