Mackay court: Matthew Owen Woodcock pleads guilty to Boulder Road, Finch Hatton offences
A woman was forced to flee after the man she invited over flew into a fit of rage and trashed her Finch Hatton home. In a twist, police are also investigating whether he is linked to another woman’s suspicious death.
Police & Courts
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A woman was forced to flee her home after the man she invited over flew into a fit of rage over the Wi-Fi password and began destroying the property.
Matthew Owen Woodcock, 37, appeared in Mackay Magistrates Court on Thursday over the “absolute destruction” of a home along Boulder Road in Finch Hatton.
Woodcock was charged with common assault, wilfully and unlawfully damaging the structure and contents of the Boulder St home, wilfully and unlawfully damaging a HiLux, and wilfully and unlawfully damaging the rear right window of a police vehicle during his arrest.
He was also charged on June 30 with possessing two bank cards reasonably suspected of being tainted property, and unlawful possession of marijuana.
He pleaded guilty to all charges.
Boulder Road is where Finch Hatton woman Suzanne Ruth Scott lived and the rampage Woodcock committed happened on the same day Ms Scott was killed.
Police confirmed they were investigating if there was a link between Ms Scott’s death and Mr Woodcock.
No charges have been laid yet in relation to Ms Scott’s death and The Daily Mercury does not suggest Woodcock was involved. Hisoffending in this matter involved another female victim.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Linden Pollard said the violence was a “one-off spontaneous reaction to an argument in relation to the Wi-Fi password … being turned off … and (Woodcock) saying that he wanted to get drunk and stoned”.
The court heard the alleged victim and Woodcock were known to each other but were not in a romantic relationship.
Mr Pollard said the female homeowner had asked Woodcock over to complete some jobs but after he began drinking, she asked him to leave.
“In response to this, (Woodcock) then takes his guitar from his vehicle and has smashed it against the front door,” he said.
“He’s come through the door into her home and she’s been required to run to the back door as (Woodcock) has chased her through the house.”
The court heard Woodcock then grabbed her arm but she was able to twist free, falling backwards.
Woodcock then threw a table in the lounge room and she tried to phone triple-0.
“The victim continues to run through the back door but again has been caught by (Woodcock),” Mr Pollard said.
“She’s had her shirt ripped and the victim’s been thrown to the ground a second time.”
The court heard Woodcock then tried to take her phone but she was able to “escape” the house, running down the driveway to take shelter at a neighbouring home.
Mr Pollard said she later returned to find the “absolute destruction” of the property which was rendered “uninhabitable”.
In referencing a victim impact statement tendered to court, Mr Pollard said the incident “had a significant toll on (the victim) both financially and mentally”.
Legal Aid solicitor Rosemary Varley asked Magistrate John Aberdeen to disregard a reference to Ms Scott’s homicide in the impact statement.
Mr Aberdeen denied the request.
“Well, if she was already experiencing guilt and this exacerbated it, then I think it’s valid,” Mr Aberdeen said to Ms Varley.
The full victim impact statement was not read out in court making it unclear what reference was made to Ms Scott’s death.
The court further heard the alleged victim had underinsured her home and incurred $20,150.73 in costs which included damages to a Toyota HiLux.
Ms Varley said she understood her client was “extremely remorseful” over his actions and asked for time to examine relevant cases and discuss the sought restitution.
Mr Aberdeen said the case may need transferring to a higher court and adjourned the matter for mention on November 10.
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