Burbank and his friend Mark Babbage pleaded guilty to disobeying WA’s strict Covid-19 laws and to fraud charges, and will serve three month jail terms after seven months of their 10 month sentence was suspended.Counterparts of Burbank in the hospitality sector say he will lay low when he returns to Melbourne but don’t see his indisrections having a major impact on business when the Chapel Street bar and restaurant reopens.“You won’t get the guys going in there who used to get the free drinks but it’ll survive,’’ one said.“It’s in Windsor, it’s a good location and he will transfer the liquor licence to a manager.“Everyone knows he’s been gifted an opportunity to run a venue and it would easily make at least $300,000 a year.“If I was Hayden I’d book a one way ticket to LA and just lay low for a while.”Morris Jones is renowned for hosting a bevy of beauties, socialites and reality television contestants at the swank venue. It also appeals to a younger crowd with one Instagram star saying her group of friends couldn’t wait to get back there.One venue owner said Burbank would re-emerge on the back of being “famous for being infamous”.“This will be a badge of honour when it’s all said and done. He’ll say it proves he’s the most dedicated Demons supporter. Someone else will run Morris Jones and he will say he did the wrong thing and be apologetic, but he’ll say he did it for his team.“People are not shocked that this has happened.”Another hospitality leader said the regulars who used to go into Morris Jones such as Melbourne Football Club players would likely steer clear of the venue.The hot ticket invites were usually for the Morris Jones birthday and Christmas parties.Burbank already even offered to host the Melbourne Football Club officials and players for a grand final celebration with an open letter.Burbank, 49, and financial planner Babbage, 38, are expected to be transferred to a regional WA prison where they will spend Christmas behind bars.They are both due to appear in an NT court on November 16, charged with knowingly forging documents, criminal deception, giving false or misleading information and contravening an emergency declaration.
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