Seth James Mathie: Warwick man faces court after unleashing violent temper

A man who took out his rage on a family’s property after a heated argument with his sister’s teenage boyfriend has faced the Warwick magistrate. FULL REPORT HERE:

A young Warwick man who unleashed his temper and destroyed parts of a family’s property after a heated confrontation with his sister’s boyfriend has faced court.

Seth James Mathie went to an Allora home on the evening of April 9, banging on the front door and demanding to speak with a teenage boy living at the house.

Police prosecutor Steve de Lissa told Warwick Magistrates Court Mathie repeatedly tried to get the 16-year-old to come outside, but the boy’s mother was able to keep her son from engaging in further conflict.

“When (Mathie) failed to get the son outside, he left the place but caused damage upon exit of the property,” he said.

Sergeant de Lissa said the 20-year-old kicked and bashed the front fence and access gate, causing $210 worth of damage to several panels along with the gate frame and supporting structures.

Mathie appeared in court with a minor criminal history, with the only prior entry related to having a firework in his possession.

Defence lawyer Clare Hine said the contractor was in Warwick with friends when his younger sister called him, saying she was worried as the other young man had been circling around the outside of their garden and texting her friends.

She said Mathie’s sister was celebrating her 16th birthday at the time and asked her brother to “just sort it out”.

“He said initially he just wanted to find out what was going on and tell him to stop it, but unfortunately he did get very angry,” she said.

Magistrate Virginia Sturgess told Mathie it was obvious he had simply let his temper get the better of him and taken out his anger on nearby property, but warned him such outbursts would almost always land him in strife.

“It seems like you went to this address effectively in defence of your sister,” she said.

“While that’s an admirable thing to do as a big brother, what you can’t do is then engage in criminal conduct, because the person who then gets in trouble is you, not the person whose behaviour you were concerned about.”

Mathie pleaded guilty to one count of wilful damage.

He was fined $450 and ordered to pay full restitution. No conviction was recorded.