Wayne Patrick Alderton pleads guilty to trespassing after he was spotted on Mackay roof
It’s a popular hobby showcased regularly on YouTube, Insta and TikTok, but a Mackay magistrate was not buying it as an excuse for being on someone’s roof at 3.30am.
Police & Courts
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Parkour is a popular hobby showcased regularly on YouTube, Insta and TikTok, but a Mackay magistrate was not buying it as an excuse for being on someone’s roof at 3.30am.
Wayne Patrick Alderton, 20, pleaded guilty in Mackay Magistrates Court to trespassing and possessing dangerous drugs after he was spotted on a Romeo St rooftop.
Police prosecutor Harry Coburn told the court officers were called to the address after a resident heard multiple people climbing on their roof in the early hours of December 21, 2021.
Police stopped three men and a woman, Alderton included, on Romeo St at 3.30am and searched the group.
Alderton had 5.52g of marijuana in a bumbag.
The court heard one member of the group said they were not trying to break into the house, instead performing parkour on a number of properties.
Mr Coburn told the court Alderton had been filmed climbing up a number of different buildings, but Alderton said he was climbing up and then down the houses.
Duty lawyer Robyn Cathcart said parkour was one of Alderton’s hobbies.
“He admits that is his hobby, he’s a climber,” she said.
“He had injured his arm previously and he said he was there on the day, testing the strength of his arm.”
Acting Magistrate Simon Young said it was “highly suspicious” to be climbing onto roofs at that time.
“At 3.30am? It’s a highly suspicious time to be doing that,” he said.
“3.30am testing your arm out because you enjoy climbing has very little credibility.”
The 20 year old is expecting his first child with his partner, who he is now living with in an attempt to “turn his life around”.
Alderton, who said he “loved” parkour, was placed on a six-month good-behaviour bond and fined $300.
No convictions were recorded.
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