Hayden Binnie pleads guilty to discharging gel blaster at Sunshine Plaza

An innocent Sunshine Plaza pedestrian has been struck with a gel blaster round shot by a pressure cleaner, who told police he did it while he was “hyped up” after a gym session.

Hayden Timothy Binnie leaving Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Picture: Sam Turner

A Sippy Downs man has been heavily fined for his “incredibly stupid” drive-by at Sunshine Plaza where he shot a pedestrian with a gel blaster.

Hayden Timothy Binnie told police he was “hyped up” after he left the gym before he committed his “dangerous” act on a complete stranger about 6.30pm on September 9.

Police prosecutor Mel Pyke told the court the 22-year-old was in the back seat of a white Volkswagen with the firearm while driving from Amaroo St to the Pikki St roundabout on the shopping centre’s grounds.

Sergeant Pyke said Binnie pointed the gel blaster rifle outside his window and discharged a number of rounds towards the pedestrian footpath before the rounds struck a male pedestrian in the leg. She said this caused him immediate pain.

Binnie outside court on Wednesday.

The man told security who were able to track down the Volkswagen and speak to Binnie. They found the gel blaster rifle in the back seat which they say had the visual appearance of a firearm or replica.

A search warrant was later conducted at his Sippy Downs home, where the 22-year-old admitted to shooting the recreational weapon and hitting the victim in the leg.

Sergeant Pyke said Binnie told police he was “hyped up” after leaving the gym that night which led to the drive-by.

Duty lawyer Katie Paterson said Binnie was remorseful and had no real reason for shooting the gel blaster he had bought from Facebook Marketplace days earlier.

He pleaded guilty to one charge.

Ms Paterson said Binnie and his mates were at Urban Gelball at Forest Glen, and considered the gel blaster a toy.

She told the court Binnie, who has links to Kingaroy and works as a pressure cleaner, was not aware he hit someone until Wednesday morning when she told him the facts.

Mr Callaghan said this was contrary to what was in the statement of facts where he admitted to police he hit a pedestrian.

“Are these things legal to own … just not legal to brandish around in public?,” magistrate Chris Callaghan asked the prosecutor as he shook his head.

Mr Callaghan called Binnie’s behaviour “incredibly stupid” and “dangerous” and told the 22-year-old he should not go to the gym if he gets hyped up due to his “juvenile behaviour”.

Binnie pleaded guilty to discharging a weapon in a public place and was fined $1000, with no conviction recorded.