Trevor Youngberg in Gladstone court for Quick as a Flash incident

A man who was angry at what a Gladstone photo shop owner allegedly said to his pregnant wife, went to the store in a confrontation that turned ugly.

A man has faced Gladstone court after he reacted to comments made to his pregnant wife. Generic image.

A man who got into an ugly confrontation with a Gladstone shop owner said he was reacting to comments that had been made to his wife, a court has heard.

Trevor Duncan Youngberg, 30, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on May 16 to wilful damage.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Tanya Griffiths said on April 23, Youngberg attended the Quick as a Flash store on the Dawson Highway, Gladstone Central.

Sgt Griffiths said Youngberg and the owner of the business, a man in his 70s, had words about “some historical issues”.

The court heard Youngberg left the store but then walked backed in.

The court was told that the store owner then grabbed a camera to photograph Youngberg and make a report to police.

It was told Youngberg took the camera from the store owner and threw it away outside the shop.

Sgt Griffiths said when questioned by police, Youngberg told them he had been “stewing over a past issue he had” with the store owner, and he admitted to taking the camera and throwing it away.

The prosecution did not seek restitution.

The court heard Youngberg had a “dated” criminal history which included a public nuisance offence.

A self-represented Youngberg told Acting Magistrate Mary Buchanan the reason behind what he did.

Youngberg said he had “reacted” to an incident that happened some months before.

Youngberg said his then heavily-pregnant wife had got some photos developed at the store and she wasn’t happy with the quality of them.

“And when she was leaving the store... she asked for the photographs back and the guy (store owner) said to her ‘that’s okay, I get to see them on the computer anyway’.

“And that caused me to react in an angry way.

“I know there was a period of grace between the incidents, but I decided to go back down and confront the owner.”

Youngberg said he was a father who worked as an electrician and he was “defending my wife”.

Acting Magistrate Mary Buchanan fined Youngberg $350 and she did not record a conviction.