Mackay Meteors player Hayden Brett Wicks pleads guilty to wilful damage

A four-time Queensland champion basketballer was suspended after he lashed out following a dispute with a former co-worker. Here’s what happened.

Mackay Meteors player Hayden Wicks pleaded guilty in Mackay Magistrates Court to damaging a former coworker's car following a dispute. He was captured on CCTV footage punching the bonnet.

A Mackay premier basketballer was suspended after he lashed out following a dispute with a former co-worker.

CCTV cameras captured the moment Mackay Meteors player Hayden Brett Wicks punched the bonnet on January 18, 2023 – conduct that also resulted in him being fired.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Linden Pollard said the victim Stewart Mackenzie had left his workplace in his work car about 6.40am leaving his personal vehicle, a Mitsubishi Outlander, in the carpark on Executive Dr at Paget.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard when Mr Mackenzie later returned he spotted a dent on the front passenger side of the bonnet of his car.

“The victim reviewed CCTV (which) showed (Wicks) approaching the victim’s vehicle before punching the bonnet once,” Sergeant Pollard said.

Mackay Meteors player Hayden Wicks pleaded guilty in Mackay Magistrates Court to wilful damage.

Police went to the home of Wicks on February 26 and he declined to give and interview.

Sergeant Pollard said Wicks, 28, had already paid for the damage which totalled just less than $1000.

Wicks, who is a contract player for the Meteors, pleaded guilty to wilful damage.

Wicks has been with the Meteors for at least 12 seasons and is a four-time championship player, including when the club took out the inaugural NBL1 North Men’s championship in 2021.

Wicks averaged three points, one assist and two rebounds per game in 2021. His best performance came against the South West Metro Pirates, where he put up 15 points.

Defence solicitor Marcus Hahn said his client, a father of two children who drove trucks for a different employer, “take full responsibility for his actions”.

“The (victim) and Mr Wicks were co-workers at the time of the incident,” Mr Hahn said.

“They had had a dispute in the workplace that resulted in Mr Wicks damaging (his car).”

Wicks, 28, was captured on CCTV footage punching the bonnet.

The court heard Wicks had previously completed the Choosing Change program and was described as a “model student”.

Magistrate Damien Dwyer said there must have been steps in place to help Wicks deal with any “anger management and control”.

“So they didn’t work,” Mr Dwyer said, to which Mr Hahn conceded adding his client realised “behaviour like that is unacceptable”.

“Especially in the workplace, that’s had its own consequences,” Mr Hahn said, adding Wicks’ employment was terminated.

He was also suspended from playing with the Meteors, which Mr Hahn said was extracurial punishment.

Mr Dwyer accepted it was an early and timely plea.

Wicks was fined $1200 and a conviction was recorded.