Nathan James Kennedy pleads guilty to wilful damage, threatening violence

A young dad will remain behind bars after a terrifying ordeal where he threatened violence against a young family at the Bundaberg Show.

Nathan James Kennedy appeared via video link in the Bundaberg Magistrates Court.

A young dad who tormented a family that was trying to leave the Bundaberg Show will remain behind bars until next year.

Nathan James Kennedy pleaded guilty to one count of wilful damage, one count of threatening violence and one count of wilful damage - domestic violence offence in the Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Monday November 20.

The court heard the unemployed 27-year-old had been attending the Bundaberg Show on May 31, 2023 when he followed a young family to their car.

Sergeant Carl Spargo told the court that the couple and their five year old son had returned to the car after noticing Kennedy watching them on several rides and become uneasy.

The court heard the mother was buckling her son into his seat while the husband started the car. The family was not known to Kennedy.

When Kennedy approached the car and opened the rear passenger door, the father began filming, while asking Kennedy to shut the door and leave them alone.

“The defendant made threats saying ‘I don’t care, I’ll flog you in front of your kid c--t, get out of the car’,” Sergeant Spargo told the court.

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The father put the car into gear, causing it to lurch forward slightly and Kennedy threw an opened can of Jack Daniels at the car.

The can spilt inside the vehicle, used by the young mum in her role as a carer, and cost $200 for a professional clean.

The court heard Kennedy was on parole at the time of the offence.

In a separate incident, which constituted the count of wilful damage - domestic violence offence on August 8, 2023, the court was told Kennedy was “pushing and pulling” an ex-girlfriend in front of his unit in front of the woman’s mother.

Kennedy approached the mother in her car, punching the Patrol ute several times, the court heard.

The mother said to Kennedy, “please don’t wreck the car” to which he replied, “that’s the least of your problems, I’m going to f--k you all up”, the court was told.

He then threw a timber picket at the windscreen.

Nathan James Kennedy appeared via videolink in the Bundaberg Magistrates Court.

Defence lawyer Ian Kendrick told the court the young father of two was “absolutely devoted to his children” and had been widowed by suicide four years ago.

Magistrate Edwina Rowan said she took into account Kennedy’s early plea, but condemned his actions against the young family.

“I accept that it would have caused the victims to be fearful, particularly as it would have occurred in the presence of a young child,” she said.

“I am told that you, Mr Kennedy, are a devoted father to an eight and a six year old child and in those circumstances I would hope that you could imagine the fear that might also cause a five-year-old child that witnessed your offending.”

Kennedy was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment on each of the charges, with a parole eligibility date on January 10, 2024.

Convictions were recorded and restitution sought for the $400 worth of damages.