Henry Zarb pleads guilty to wilful damage of Sunshine Coast Mazda

A Maroochydore TAFE student caused more than $27,000 worth of damage to a Sunshine Coast car dealership during a ‘power trip’ after a huge night on the drink.

A Maroochydore man caused more than $27,000 worth of drunken destruction to a Sunshine Coast car dealership after a huge night on the beers because “it made him feel better”, a court has heard.

Henry Zarb, 22, was sentenced to three months’ jail to be suspended for nine months after he threw multiple rocks at the Maroochydore car dealership in the early hours of May 23, 2022.

Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard police were called about 6.30am to reports of wilful damage at the Sunshine Cove Way business.

Police prosecutor Nick Nitschke said witnesses had seen a man throwing rocks at the building’s windows and cars causing damage.

Sergeant Nitschke said Zarb was found by police later and admitted to smashing the windows and damaging the cars because “he wanted to” and “it made him feel better”.

The total restitution sought was $27,856 to cover the costs of the windows and cars with Sergeant Nitschke labelling the damage as “destruction”.

Defence lawyer Neesha Maidwell said the unemployed TAFE student had been living in Victoria but had flown back to the Sunshine Coast in May for his brother’s wedding.

The court heard he had also flown back especially for his appearance in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on June 23, 2022 for his matter.

Ms Maidwell said on the morning of May 23 Zarb woke up drunk from the night before and drank once again.

Zarb instructed Ms Maidwell that he believed he was suffering from a “mental health impairment” at the time and was on some sort of “power trip”.

The court heard from the total restitution there was $3000 insurance excess.

Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist likened the damage to Zarb driving a bulldozer through the business.

Zarb pleaded guilty to two counts of wilful damage and was ordered to pay $3000 restitution to the car yard that was out of pocket with no other orders given.

Mr Stjernqvist suggested Zarb may receive a subpoena from the insurance company to recoup the funds in a future civil matter.

A conviction was recorded.