Michael John Daniel in court for bashing a man older than 60

A Hervey Bay boatie who failed to pay or pick up his boat months after it was repaired, assaulted the elderly owner of the boatyard when he found out he was trying to sell it.

A Hervey Bay boatie who failed to pay or collect his boat for more than a year after it was repaired, assaulted the elderly owner of the boatyard when he found out he was trying to sell it to recoup his costs.

A businessman caused an elderly man to be injured when he pushed him to the ground during a dispute over a boat in Hervey Bay.

Michael John Daniel, 35, pleaded guilty to serious assault of a person over 60 when he faced Maryborough District Court last week.

The court heard in November, 2021, Daniel took his boat to a repair business.

The repairs were completed by May 2022, and an invoice for payment was sent, but Daniel did not reply or pay, the court was told.

In August he was notified again and was told if he did not pay, steps would taken to dispose of the property and recoup their costs.

Another six months passed and the boat and trailer were listed for sale by the repairs business to recoup their cost.

A Hervey Bay boatie who failed to pay or collect his boat for more than a year after it was repaired, assaulted the elderly owner of the boatyard when he found out he was trying to sell it to recoup his costs.

Daniel “seemed to become aware of those intentions” and he went to the business premises with his partner and a colleague.

He offered the business owner payment for the repair work, the court heard, but the other man refused the payment as he had taken steps to dispose of the property.

The other man and his wife asked Daniel to leave, which angered him, the court was told.

He pushed the other man in the chest three or four times with open hands, damaging his shirt.

Daniel then got in his car and use it to move a forklift out of the way.

His partner was yelling, telling the other couple to take the money.

Daniel got out of the car and pushed the man again, causing the man to hit his head and hand.

When he got to his feet, his head and hand were bleeding.

A Hervey Bay boatie who failed to pay or collect his boat for more than a year after it was repaired, assaulted the elderly owner of the boatyard when he found out he was trying to sell it to recoup his costs.

Daniel then attached the trailer and boat to his car and drove away.

Police arrived and the owner of the business was taken to Hervey Bay Hospital by ambulance where he needed six sutures to his fingers.

Officers later went to Daniel’s house and he admitted to pushing the other man but said he didn’t realise he had been hurt.

Through his solicitor, Daniel later paid the invoice for his boat, and had since offered a further $800 for additional costs to the boat repairer.

The court heard Daniel had been educated to about Year 10 and had completed an apprenticeship that led him to running two mechanic workshops in the ACT, enjoying some success.

He had moved to Hervey Bay to support his father when he was diagnosed with cancer and had been operating transportation and excavation businesses.

Judge Carl Heaton said Daniel had resorted to violence to resolve the conflict when there were many more mature ways to address it.

“This is serious offending. The use of violence to settle commercial disputes must be deterred,” he said.

A victim impact statement from the man’s wife had been submitted and Judge Heaton said he accepted it would have been a traumatic incident for her.

Judge Heaton sentenced Daniel to a $1000 good behaviour bond with an operational period of three years.

Compensation totalling $5000 was also ordered to be paid to the boat repairer.

No conviction was recorded.

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