David Lincoln Webster in court for assaulting Boyne Island neighbour
A leaf-blower incident caused an “ongoing” neighbour dispute in Central Queensland to turn physical with a man ending up in hospital.
Police & Courts
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A Central Queensland man has faced court for assaulting a neighbour after their “ongoing” dispute boiled over.
David Lincoln Webster, 29, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court to assault occasioning bodily harm.
The court heard the offence happened on December 19 last year at Boyne Island and the victim was a male neighbour of Webster’s at Koolivoo Parade.
It was told Webster approached the neighbour who was using a leaf blower to blow grass clippings and leaves.
Webster voiced his displeasure at the leaves being blown onto the nature strip directly outside his home.
The court heard the neighbour apologised but Webster replied: “What do you mean sorry, c**t?”
Webster then told the neighbour to stop blowing “sh**” on his yard.
The neighbour said “no” and restarted the leaf blower to finish his gardening, the court heard.
Webster continued to verbally abuse the neighbour with the latter apologising again.
The court heard Webster then followed the victim and while he was not looking, slapped him.
Later that day, the neighbour started feeling pain and experienced a loss of hearing in his right ear.
An ambulance took him to hospital and after seeing a specialist, he was diagnosed with a perforated ear drum as a result of the assault.
Webster had a four-page criminal history which consisted mostly of dishonesty offending but it also contained a previous AOBH offence, as well as minor drug offending.
Solicitor Bianca Wieland said Webster, born and raised in Mackay, was a father of two who worked as a spray painter and sandblaster.
She said his offending stemmed from an “ongoing dispute” with the neighbour at Boyne Island.
Ms Wieland said on the day of the offending, Webster had reacted to “rocks thrown up” onto his vehicle causing paint damage.
“He (Webster) did concede that he lost his temper,” she said.
Ms Wieland said Webster had apologised to the victim for his actions and co-operated with police.
Magistrate Mary Buchanan placed Webster on 18 months’ probation, and ordered he pay $750 compensation to the victim.
A conviction was recorded.
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