Warwick mum’s sneaky crime leaves behind $3600+ damages to ex’s car

The 25yo thought she made sure no one was around when she lashed out and keyed her ex’s car, but she wasn’t counting on the security cameras that would soon become her undoing.

IN COURT: The Warwick woman thought she’d got away with keying her ex’s car, but wasn’t counting on the security cameras catching her in the act. Picture: file

A Warwick mother has fronted court after an opportunistic act of vandalism driven by “animosity” towards her ex caused more than $3500 in damages to the man’s car.

Nikita Jessica Coutts targeted her ex-partner’s Mitsubishi Triton in the underground car park at Rose City Shoppingworld on January 29.

The Warwick Magistrates Court heard the 25-year-old was seen on CCTV footage leaving the shopping centre and pushing her trolley towards the man’s vehicle, before stopping and looking around to make sure no one else was nearby.

Police prosecutor Steve de Lissa said Coutts moved around the car a few times before finally stopping at the front left side of the vehicle and using her right hand to leave marks “consistent with being scratched by an object similar to a key”.

Sergeant de Lissa told the court the damage to the car would cost $3653.44 to fix, accounting for both the repairs to the vehicle and labour costs.

Coutts appeared in court with a clean criminal history.

Defence lawyer Bonnie O’Brien said her client and the victim had a six-year-old child together, and there had been ongoing tensions about the care of their son and the man’s new partner.

“Around the time the incident occurred, (Coutts) suffered a miscarriage, so she was also not in a good mental state at the time and has little recollection of what happened on the day,” she said.

“She has a long-term partner who has been with her for over a year, she’s currently pregnant, and has very good family support.”

Magistrate Julian Noud told the Warwick mother her actions were “inexcusable”, but acknowledged she was unlikely to reoffend.

Coutts pleaded guilty to one count of wilful damage.

She was placed on a three-month good behaviour bond and ordered to pay $3653.44 in restitution.

No conviction was recorded.