Scott Blackburn to contest lesser charges after ploughing into childcare centre

A father who has already pleaded guilty to damaging a southern suburbs childcare centre has told the court he will contest his lesser charges.

An angry father who drove through a Morphett Vale childcare centre over a pick-up dispute, has asked to have the rest of his charges withdrawn.

Scott Blackburn, 43, appeared in the Christies Beach Magistrate Court on Wednesday for a number of charges including misusing a motor vehicle, failing to stop and to give particulars to persons at a crash scene after deliberately ploughing into the front of a Morphett Vale early learning centre in 2020.

The crash caused almost $110,000 damage. Photo Sam Wundke

Mr Blackburn told the court he believed the charges were to be dismissed after he was sentenced in the Adelaide District Court in July this year for damaging the building.

However prosecution submitted to the court they have no intention of withdrawing the charges.

“There is a note on the file that the charges are not to be with withdrawn,” Prosecutor James Conahan said.

“He’s been convicted only of the property damage charge … his criminal history should reflect the full range of charges.”

Scott Blackburn received a suspended jail sentence. Picture: Supplied

District Court Judge Paul Muscat in July sentenced Mr Blackburn to nine months and 15 days in prison which was fully suspended after the father was “told off” by a childcare worker for picking up his child earlier than was scheduled as part of an agreement with his ex-partner.

As a form of protest, a furious Mr Blackburn took some of his children’s toys and went to the early learning centre late in the evening of June 16, 2020.

He set up the toys in a barricade across the driveway. His then-partner arrived with a friend to try and calm down Mr Blackburn, but their words had the opposite effect.

A neighbour filmed the final parts of the interaction where Mr Blackburn was yelling and shouting before trying to leave the carpark at speed.

He lost control of the car, mounted a curb and crashed into the front of the building.

Dazed and bleeding, Mr Blackburn drove away but handed himself in to police the next morning.

The court heard the crash had caused almost $110,000 worth of damage.

Mr Blackburn told the court he will be contesting the lesser charges, submitting his punishment in the District Court was sufficient.

He also asked the court to vary his bail, in order to travel interstate.

“I’m living fairly remote now, it’s a seven-hour journey with the family,” Mr Blackburn said.

“I would like to travel interstate to my family if I was unwell, I don't feel that I should be on a bond for a minor traffic offence.”

The matter will return to court in January.