Tony Malcolm Lette pleads guilty in Chinchilla Magistrates Court to wilful and unlawful damage, contravene police direction
A drunken father who was frustrated with his son took his anger out on a Heeney St business, causing thousands of dollars of damage. Here’s what happened.
Police & Courts
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A furious father who unleashed his anger on a Chinchilla florist has fronted court for his destructive actions.
Tony Malcolm Lette pleaded guilty in Chinchilla Magistrates Court to wilful and unlawful damage and contravening a police direction.
Police prosecutor Mathew Donnelly said on May 18 at about 12.50am Lette was spotted outside of Chinchilla Jewellers on Heeney St picking up an unknown item.
“(He’d) thrown the item upwards outside the business and attempted to smash the drop light which illuminates the shop front,” Mr Donnelly said.
The court was told the defendant then threw the item a second time, which on this instance successfully damaged the light.
“The same male was spotted out the front of a Chinchilla florist, he picks up a large (item) and throws it through the shop window, smashing and damaging floral items inside the store,” Mr Donnelly said.
“Police were alerted (and) security officers described a description of the incident and observed him walking over the Chinchilla overpass towards McDonald’s.”
Police reviewed CCTV footage which served as evidence of the offence and observed the older male defendant with a younger male.
“Police observed the same males on the McDonalds Chinchilla CCTV soon after.”
Later that day at about 1.50pm patrolling police observed the same two males sitting at a Chinchilla St bus stop, where they identified them as father and son.
“(The defendant) Stated he was drunk, a stupid thing to do. Unable to provide police with a reasonable excuse.”
Mr Donnelly said the contravening a police requirement charge was Lette’s failure to provide identifying particulars.
Lette attended the police station on May 30 and appeared “apologetic” for not attending.
Mr Donnelly said the very least they were seeking was $250 to cover the insurance excess.
Defence lawyer Brad Skuse said his client has no explanation to justify his actions.
“He instructs me, your honour, he was with his son and an incident between the two of them has upset him,” Mr Skuse said.
“And unfortunately, your honour, the result of that was a very inappropriate consequence of throwing items at a window and also at a light causing damage to both.
“He has a history but nothing of a like nature, predominantly a mixture of offences your honour.
“No offences of a street-fight nature or public nuisance on there.
“This is something that is potentially somewhat out of character for my client.
“He has told police he was heavily intoxicated on this occasion, he doesn’t normally consume alcohol, certainly not to the extent he did on this night.”
Acting magistrate Michael Bice said Lette would be handed a “hefty fine” given the consequences suffered by the business and to deter the defendant and others from acting this way.
“There was a major effect on this business given to your element of relapse and obviously you were really angry with your son and you just lost it,” Mr Bice said.
Lette was fined $2000 referred to SPER and ordered to pay the $250 excess in restitution.
A conviction was recorded.