Sam Chadwick: Melbourne man’s role in slingshot attacks on Melbourne buildings

A man has faced court on his 51st birthday as he learnt his fate over a slingshot spree that caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage.

A Melbourne man who drove others around while they flung marbles into buildings with a slingshot has avoided jail after admitting to the “extraordinarily poor” decision.

Sam Chadwick appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, also his 51st birthday, as magistrate Belinda Wallington handed down a sentence of a two-year community corrections order with counselling and 250 hours of unpaid community work.

Earlier this month, Chadwick pleaded guilty to 17 offences, mainly intentionally damaging property during a spree from October to December 2023.

Chadwick, initially charged with more than 100 charges after his arrest in December 2023, drove others around Melbourne’s CBD and southeast as they flung projectiles into buildings.

Sam Chadwick was sentenced to a community-based order. Picture: NewsWire/Ian Currie

Apartment buildings, corporate offices, banks and retail outlets were targeted, with the damage bill for six of the 15 incidents estimated at $83,168.80.

Previously, prosecutors called for a jail sentence, saying Chadwick’s actions represented “gross irresponsibility and immaturity”.

But his lawyer Patrick Coleridge argued that while the offending was serious, Chadwick had spent the better part of 18 months on strict bail conditions and had been working to address his mental health issues.

Mr Coleridge told the court the mechanic did not have any past criminal convictions and was described by references as reliable, hardworking, law abiding and family orientated.

His actions were described as ‘gross irresponsibility and immaturity’. Picture: NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

While the offending was the result of “extraordinarily poor” decisions, the defence lawyer said, there was now “cause for optimism”, as Chadwick sought professional counselling.

“In my respectful submission nothing is achieved by sentencing this man to a term of imprisonment,” he said.

Ms Wallington agreed, saying she was persuaded to go with a community-based order after taking into account his early guilty plea and lack of priors.

She told the court on Wednesday that she had received two victim impact statements, one from a hairdressing studio owner and one from an apartment building manager.

The studio owner said she was “so shocked and anxious” after the attack damaged her window she could not see clients the rest of the day.

The woman said she had been unable to afford getting the damage fixed and the “hole remains a constant reminder of the event”.

Chadwick attempted to shield his face as he left court. Picture: NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Ms Wallington said the building manager spoke of the anxiety experienced by residents who wondered why their building was under attack multiple times.

“Mr Chadwick, a very large amount of damage was done by you as a 50 year-old man, you did not act like an adult,” she said.

“But you’ve pleaded guilty and taken some steps to address your psychological issues.”

No restitution order to claw back the repair costs was sought by prosecutors.

Originally published as Sam Chadwick: Melbourne man’s role in slingshot attacks on Melbourne buildings