Wade Hartas smashes friend’s car with wrench at Landcruiser Mountain Park

A 4WD camping trip at a popular destination took an ugly turn, ending in one man smashing his friend’s windscreen with a wrench. Read what sparked the outburst:

A camping trip among a group of friends quickly turned violent when a scuffle led to a windscreen being smashed by a drunk wrench-wielding camper.

Wade William Hartas, 20, was camping at Landcruiser Mountain Park at Kingaham on September 18, 2021, drinking alcohol with his friends when an argument broke out between him and another man that sparked a physical altercation.

Hartas represented himself in Caloundra Magistrates Court on Wednesday and said the man had been “harassing” him all night.

“He was getting up in my face and pushing me around,” he told the court.

Wade Hartas pleaded guilty to wilful damage and was ordered to pay $337 in restitution to the victim.

“I held my temper to a point and then he assaulted me so I threw him away and took myself away from the situation.”

Police prosecutor Stephen Potter said about midnight Hartas used a wrench to smash the windscreen of the victim’s white Nissan.

“The windscreen sustained a total of seven strikes which damaged the windscreen beyond repair,” Sergeant Potter said.

Hartas said he had “blacked out” and doesn't remember smashing the victim’s windscreen but had been made aware of it.

Wade Hartas pleaded guilty to wilful damage and was ordered to pay $337 in restitution to the victim.

“I continued drinking with my other friends and then the rest of the night was a blur,” the 20-year-old said.

Magistrate Catherine Benson said it was “out of character” for Hartas who had no criminal history.

“Things got way out of hand ... I have no doubt you were under incredible stress about this matter,” she said.

Hartas pleaded guilty to wilful damage and was ordered to pay $337 in restitution to the victim but was not further punished.

No conviction was recorded.