Beach user Christopher James Rylands Sale threw a Livingstone Shire Council trail camera in the ocean to avoid detection

The man felt he couldn’t afford a fine for driving on the beach as he’d been owed “a lot” of money by his creditors for his concreting business. The penalty he copped in court was much worse.

Mulambin Beach where the council surveillance trail cam was thrown in the ocean and destroyed.

A Capricorn Coast beach user removed a council surveillance trail camera and threw it in the ocean to avoid getting a fine for driving on the beach.

As it turned out, the man was hit with a bigger financial penalty when he faced court.

Christopher James Rylands Sale, 34, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on April 7 to wilful damage.

The court heard that Sale went to Mulambin Beach in a vehicle, about 9pm on February 17.

“(Sale) removed a trail cam used by the Livingstone Shire Council to monitor unlawful use of motor vehicles and potential offences on that beach,” Police prosecutor Senior Constable Pete Rumford said.

“(Sale) has then thrown that camera into the ocean, rendering it inoperable.”

On February 22, council staff spoke to Sale and he made admissions to damaging the camera.

“(Sale) stated that his friend was driving his car onto the beach and he informed him that there were several cameras nearby,” Snr Const Rumford said.

“(Sale’s) friend proceeded to drop (Sale) off at the nearby beach access to allow (Sale) to commit these offences.”

The court heard Sale had no criminal history and the prosecution sought restitution of $671.

Solicitor Joanne Madden said Sale and his friend had been drinking on the night of the offence.

“He (Sale) said that, at the time, he just felt he couldn’t tolerate the fine that would have been imposed to his car for driving on the beach, as he’s been owed a lot of money by his creditors for his concreting business,” Ms Madden.

“He was also, at the time, dealing with a separation - he just felt that his decision making was somewhat impaired at the time.”

Magistrate Jason Schubert noted that Sale had no criminal history and said “it’s a rather odd offence”.

Mr Schubert fined him $500 and ordered he pay $671 restitution.

No conviction was recorded.