Australian tourist J William Roncevich went on eight-hour rampage in Queenstown

The Northern Territory man went on an eight-hour rampage in Queenstown. Photo / Mark Mitchell

An Australian tourist who drank a bottle of vodka before flying into an eight-hour rage in Queenstown has been sentenced to community work.

J William Roncevich assaulted three police officers, bit another man, spat saliva and blood, and threatened to kill police and ambulance staff on August 8.

Judge Christina Cook, during sentencing at Queenstown District Court on Monday, said the 25-year-old went into a rage at YHA Queenstown Lakefront Backpackers, Lake Esplanade, just after 8pm.

He was asleep on a sofa near reception when staff woke him to check he was a guest.

The Northern Territory man began shouting abuse and throwing punches at the air.

Police were called. A South Korean guest who tried to restrain Roncevich was bitten on the arm.

"Police arrived and the defendant was subsequently arrested," Judge Cook said, reading from the summary of facts.

"He refused to co-operate, yelling abuse, kicking out and tensing his arms beneath him, making it difficult to handcuff him."

Once in the police car, he kicked Constable Melanie Allen, causing swelling and bruising of a finger.

He kicked Senior Constable Darren Cranfield and Sergeant Linda Stevens and spat at Stevens.

In the cell block he continued shouting abuse and spitting.

"The defendant was left in the cell to calm down. However, while in the cell, he began to head-butt the floor, then stood up and due to his intoxicated state lost his balance and face-planted on to the concrete floor, causing an injury to his eye and chin," the judge said.

Roncevich then threatened to kill Cranfield and the ambulance officer who came to stitch his wounds.

He was eventually placed in a restraint chair and spit hood.

Judge Cook said: "The defendant continued his barrage of abuse and yelling for at least eight hours solid, before calming down as he sobered up."

His lawyer Louise Denton said the offending had been brought about by the defendant drinking the entire bottle of vodka.

"That was of his own doing but something he regrets," Denton said.

She said the incidents were out of character and the kicking assaults occurred while Roncevich was generally thrashing about.

She said the spitting was "fairly distasteful" but nothing "long term" arose because of it.

Denton said the defendant had an alcohol problem and the court should take a "compassionate approach". He had been to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings since that night, abstained from alcohol and completed voluntary work.

Roncevich, who has previous alcohol-related convictions in Australia, had admitted two charges of making threats to kill, three charges of assaulting police, one charge of common assault and one charge of resisting arrest.

He was sentenced to 160 hours' community work, fined $650 and $130 court costs. He was ordered to pay $448 in reparation; $400 for damage to the jacket of the man he bit and $48 for the medical treatment of constable Allen.

"This was an appalling alcohol-fuelled abusive and potentially dangerous situation from your perspective," the judge said.