IGA grocery store manager Paul Newman pleads guilty to keying Tesla at Currimundi

A Noosa Shire IGA manager has offered no explanation for maliciously keying a Tesla at a Sunshine Coast shopping centre, which was caught on the vehicle’s cameras.

Paul Edward Newman leaving Caloundra Magistrates Court on Thursday. Picture: Sam Turner

A Noosa Shire supermarket manager who keyed a Tesla at a local shopping centre has offered no explanation for the “bizarre” damage he did.

When questioned by police Paul Edward Newman could not recall what happened and even asked to watch footage of the incident which was captured on the electric vehicle’s hidden cameras.

Caloundra Magistrates Court heard the pointless vandalism on Thursday after the Currimundi man pleaded guilty to wilful damage and two counts of contravening a police direction.

Police prosecutor Stephen Potter said the victim was a 62-year-old social worker who parked their grey Tesla at the Currimundi Marketplace on the afternoon of June 4.

Sergeant Potter said video taken from the Tesla’s side cameras recorded Newman drive nose into a park about 4.30pm next to the luxury car before he exited the car.

The court heard his door made contact with the Tesla’s rear passenger door before he walked off.

Newman leaving court. Picture: Sam Turner

The police prosecutor said Newman returned and used his key to gouge the front driver’s side door of the Tesla before he drove away.

The victim spotted this on his cameras and contacted police.

When officers spoke to Newman on June 15 he said he could not remember the incident and requested to see what footage they had.

Sergeant Potter said after watching it with police, he said it was an “accident”. He later failed to give his identifying particulars and his DNA at a local police station following being charged.

The court heard Newman caused $1656 damage to the Tesla which the owner wanted as compensation for what Sergeant labelled “uncalled for” vandalism.

Defence lawyer Rowan King said the 50-year-old IGA manager had been engaging in “unusual behaviour” ever since he was assaulted at work, where he suffered a head injury.

Mr King said his client couldn’t offer an explanation as to why he keyed the car but accepted he did it.

The court was told about Newman being “community minded” where he was a soccer club treasurer and a northern NSW indoor soccer coach.

Magistrate Catherine Benson said it was “bizarre” behaviour from a “mature man”.

Newman was fined $1000 and ordered to pay back $1656 in damages. No conviction was recorded.