CCTV catches Alastair Grant Kennedy in bizarre rage attack on car at Mount Pleasant

CCTV cameras captured a Mackay man who “maliciously” damaged a vehicle in a bizarre rage incident. And his reason for the outburst is even more ludicrous.

A Mackay man who “maliciously” damaged a vehicle in a bizarre rage incident at Mount Pleasant will be made to repay the community for his bad behaviour.

CCTV cameras captured Alastair Grant Kennedy red handed as he used an object to scratch up the front passenger side door of a Toyota LandCruiser parked next to his vehicle.

His reason – he thought the owner of that vehicle had damaged his car. This shocking incident played out in the parking lot in front of Repco.

The victim had pulled up about 10am on April 23, 2021 – he popped into the spare parts store and in 10 minutes was back at his car and drove away.

Prosecutor David Epstein said the victim immediately noticed his passenger side mirror was facing the wrong way, before he stopped and saw scratched paint on the passenger side door.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard he obtained CCTV footage from Repco that he took to police, who played the video showing Kennedy as the culprit.

The 57 year old is captured returning to his silver Ford Falcon and opening the driver’s side door, before grabbing the side mirror on the victim’s car and yanking it “back and forth leaving it facing the wrong direction”.

Mr Epstein said Kennedy then got a V can from his car and used it to “scratch the passenger side door of the victim’s car repeatedly” before he drove off.

Police used registration plates to track Kennedy down and he told officers he scratched the car because “he believed that the owner of that car had damaged his”.

The court heard Kennedy had noticed damage on his driver’s side door when he returned to his car that day and acted out.

“He agreed that this was not the right way to go about sorting the matter out,” Mr Epstein said.

Kennedy pleaded guilty to wilful damage.

Legal Aid solicitor Ancilla Seethya said her client had no criminal history and was temporarily employed as a driver at the mine.

She said Kennedy had been suffering anxiety, depression and dealing with not being able to see his sick father, who lived in New Zealand, because of Covid-19 at the time of the offence.

Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan said there were many people facing the same struggles who did not act out like Kennedy did.

“It’s extremely malicious,” she said, adding it was “very very serious”.

More stories:

How this Bowen Basin miner risked his life to save a workmate

‘F — your eye’: Drug dealer ruptures man’s eyeball, blinding him

“I think he should do some community service.

“I think a fine doesn’t meet the criminality of what he’s done.”

Ms Hartigan said “clearly something went wrong on this day” later adding hopefully it was “just one brain snap”.

“That somebody of your age, with no criminal history and a good employment history would act in this manner is truly surprising and disappointing,” Ms Hartigan said.

Kennedy must complete 40 hours of community service within 12 months and pay $479 restitution. A conviction was not recorded.