A delivery driver was unloading items at a shopping centre when he snapped and attacked a woman’s car while she was still inside.
Hayden John Smith, 47, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on May 16 to wilful damage.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Tanya Griffiths said about 1.46pm on January 18, Smith was the driver of a delivery truck that was parked in a loading zone at the NightOwl centre in Gladstone.
Sgt Griffiths said Smith was unloading items from the truck when CCTV footage showed him kick the back of a woman’s Hyundai.
“(Smith) then walked towards (the woman’s) vehicle and yanked on the driver’s door handle, causing the handle to break off,” Sgt Griffiths said.
She said Smith then threw the handle back into the Hyundai, returned to his delivery truck, and drove to another loading bay.
The prosecutor said when police officers questioned Smith, he told them he was unloading things in the loading zone outside Sportspower when he believed he was “struck on his buttocks by the victim’s driver’s side door mirror.”
“He stated he’d kicked the car as it travelled past him,” Sgt Griffiths said.
“(Smith) further admitted to punching the victim’s vehicle, however there was no damage from either incident.
“(Smith) told police he attempted to open the driver’s side door … (Smith) stated he threw the door handle back in the victim’s vehicle through an open window but did not aim it at the driver or any other passengers in the vehicle.”
In court, the prosecution sought restitution of $320.53 for damage to the vehicle.
The court heard Smith had no criminal history.
Solicitor Jun Pepito said Smith was a father of two who was working as a delivery driver at the time of the incident, but he was now working a different job.
Mr Pepito said Smith acknowledged he had overreacted.
Acting Magistrate Mary Buchanan fined Smith $350 and ordered he pay $320.53 restitution.
No conviction was recorded.