Neil William Strong in court for ramming car

A feud involving members of two Gayndah families resulted in a car being used as a weapon and a young man who went to school in Rockhampton and worked in Gympie paying thousands of dollars in restitution.

Neil William Strong, 21, pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous operation of a vehicle when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

A young carer used his car as a weapon the night he argued with a man he had an ongoing feud with.

Neil William Strong, 21, pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Police prosecutor Balam Selvadurai said the matter related to a “manner of driving” in which Strong had driven into the back of a vehicle in Gayndah.

The court heard the matter started with a verbal exchange between Strong and the other man before Strong performed an illegal U-turn to follow the man in his vehicle then rammed the back of it.

The vehicle Strong ran into had two children in it at the time, but neither were injured, the court was told.

Four character references were handed up to court on Strong’s behalf.

His defence lawyer said he had been born and raised in Gayndah.

He had completed his schooling at Rockhampton before joining the workforce.

Strong had worked at a Gympie business for 18 months until his mental health deteriorated.

He had previously been diagnosed with anxiety and depression, the court heard.

His father had been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and Strong was currently helping to care for his father.

Neil William Strong, 21, pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous operation of a vehicle when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

The legal representative said there had been a “checkered history” with the victim’s family.

He said the complainant’s brother had previously borrowed Strong’s car.

It was meant to be for a week, but was not returned for three weeks and was severely damaged, the court was told.

Strong went to the complainant’s home to address the issue and the complainant’s brother allegedly hit Strong on the head with a spanner, the court was told.

That matter was still before the courts.

The complainant had “effectively held a grudge against him ever since”, the legal representative said.

But he said Strong understood that did not excuse his own culpability, and he was remorseful for his conduct.

Magistrate John Milburn described the facts as “disturbing”.

He said on January 21, 2025, about 8pm Strong had been involved in a traffic crash following a disturbance.

Police saw a black vehicle with damage to the rear right bumper, and witnesses said Strong had rammed the vehicle.

CCTV footage showed him getting out of the car before the crash, and having an argument with another man, who was standing across the road, Mr Milburn said.

Strong then got back in his car, crossed double lines while doing a U-turn and accelerated, crashing into the other vehicle. He did not stop, but instead continued to drive, Mr Milburn said.

There were two children in the other vehicle who were not injured but were taken to hospital for precautionary reasons, Mr Milburn said.

“Using a motor vehicle as a weapon is a very serious instance of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle,” he said.

Strong was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for a year.

He was ordered to pay $12,000 restitution and disqualified from driving for 12 months.