A 21-year-old man charged with smashing up a car with a golf club has been sentenced to 150 hours community service and ordered to pay compensation of $1500.
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Luke Smith of Burrundulla Avenue, Mudgee, pleaded guilty to ‘Destroy or damage property’ in Mudgee Local Court on Wednesday, June 7, 2017.
At about 10.25pm on November 23, 2016, Smith and the co-accused in the incident, using a golf club and hammer respectively, began damaging the vehicle while it was parked on Horatio Street, Mudgee.
They smashed the windscreen and moved down the car from the front, each taking a side, and shattering the side windows.
The pair attempted to break the rear window but ran off after they failed to do so.
The incident was captured on CCTV.
Smith’s solicitor, Tom Flynn told the court that his client’s actions were over threats that had been made, but rather than going to police “he took matters into his own hands”.
Magistrate Bruce Williams said of the incident “this is vigilante stuff” and reminded the defendant “this is not TV”.
Upon reading the pre-sentence report prepared on Smith – this matter being his second appearance in Mudgee Local Court within a matter of months – Magistrate Williams told him, “you’re at a stage with your offending where the next step could land you in jail”.
And added, “alcohol is a factor, but you’re the one who puts it in your stomach”.
