Matthew Joshua Hayes pleads guilty to going armed to cause fear, common assault

A Qld father armed himself with a machete and launched a menacing assault on a group of neighbours who confronted his sons over burnouts on their local beach.

Matthew Joshua Hayes pleaded guilty to three counts of common assault and one counts of going armed to cause fear at Greenhill, south of Mackay.

A father has launched a menacing assault brandishing a machete and threatening a group of neighbours who confronted his sons over burnouts on their local beach.

The 40-year-old mine worker went from house to house, gripping the weapon and provoking fear in his victims.

“It was a disgraceful, silly, evil act,” Magistrate Damien Dwyer said.

It all started about 8.30pm on June 25, 2023 when a number of Greenhill residents heard a vehicle doing burnouts on the nearby beach, which is located between Mackay and Rockhampton.

Believing these were the people behind similar conduct in the area, the group went to identify those responsible and came across several juveniles — and as a result took the battery from the vehicle.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard the children, who are not accused of any wrongdoing, returned home and told their father Matthew Joshua Hayes they had been “accosted, assaulted and the battery stolen”.

Matthew Joshua Hayes pleaded guilty to three counts of common assault and one counts of going armed to cause fear. Picture: Janessa Ekert

The court heard that on hearing this Hayes got a machete from his shed, drove to Ocean Drive at Greenhill about four kilometres away and started yelling on the street, seeking out the people who had taken the battery.

“You’re all going to wear this,” he yelled, armed with the machete.

“I won’t stop until I get my battery.”

At the first house while confronting one couple, who repeatedly told him to leave, he “held the machete up to her face causing a small cut”.

The court heard he went to a second house where one yelled, “watch our he’s got a knife” — Hayes swung the weapon at one of the occupants.

It was argued Hayes had acted out to protect his sons, but Magistrate Damien Dwyer dismissed this angle.

The terrifying incident occurred at Greenhill, south of Mackay. Picture: Janessa Ekert

“He went down there with a purpose... and it was prolonged, he went to one house then he went to another house,” Mr Dwyer said.

The court heard the conduct was out of character, Hayes did not have a criminal history and the offending had occurred more than 12 months ago.

“But it’s a very serious event... getting a knife and going and attacking people in a rage,” Mr Dwyer said, labelling the offending as “everything his community doesn’t want to see”.

“Nobody died and made you sheriff... enabling you to get a weapon. It would have been a terrifying time.”

Hayes pleaded guilty to three counts of common assault and going armed to cause fear.

In lieu of a jail term, Mr Dwyer ordered Hayes to complete 200 hours of unpaid community service in 12 months.

Convictions were recorded.