James David Mehan pleads guilty to wilful damage of Airlie Beach woman’s car

A court heard a 21 year old was ‘blowing off steam’ in Airlie Beach when he filmed himself smashing up a stranger’s car.

A Central Queensland mine worker who caused more than $4000 worth of damage to a stranger’s car on a drunken night out has paid the price in a Whitsunday court.

James David Mehan, 21, used a mobile phone to film himself vandalising a stranger’s car parked behind Airlie Beach bar Paddy’s Shenanigans on August 26 in an incident he claimed to have no memory of because of his level of intoxication.

Proserpine Magistrates Court heard Mehan climbed onto the bonnet of a woman’s Toyota Hilux and recorded himself “stomping” on the car’s left and right side mirrors until they broke off, about 12.50am, then fled the scene by jumping over a concrete wall.

Solicitor Elizabeth Smith told the court Mehan was on a break from work as a surveyor at Adani’s Carmichael Mine and had visited Airlie Beach to “blow off some steam”.

She said Mehan had looked through his phone but had been unable to find a recording of the incident. though he accepted the allegations.

Acting Magistrate Rob Turra said Airlie Beach locals were “certainly sick and tired of this type of behaviour” and ordered Mehan pay a $600 fine plus $4080.30 restitution to his victim.

“It’s just stupidity isn’t it?” Mr Turra said.

“Unfortunately, you don’t get free shots at life and if you are doing things that you completely can’t recall … You can’t drink to that extent that you lose control and things like this can happen.”

No convictions were recorded.