Victoria Point concrete worker, Phillip James Bugeja, in court for excavator rampage

A bayside concrete worker said he had a “brain snap” after hopping in an excavator and ploughing into a client’s property.

Victoria Point concrete worker, Phillip James Bugeja, leaving Cleveland Magistrates Court.

A bayside concrete worker has faced court after he had a ‘brain snap’ and ploughed into a client’s property with an excavator.

Victoria Point’s Phillip James Bugeja, 52, pleaded guilty in Cleveland Magistrates Court on Tuesday, November 1, to one count of wilful damage.

The court heard Mr Bugeja had a dispute with a client in Redland Bay on August 10 over payment issues.

“The defendant has contacted the victim over the phone,” the police prosecutor said.

“There has been an argument in relation to a concrete driveway, a dispute over payment.

“The victim woke up on that morning and heard some noises at the front of his house.

“He looked outside to see that the defendant is sitting in his excavator.

“He then used an attachment to scrape large gouges into the driveway.”

Victoria Point concrete worker, Phillip James Bugeja, leaving Cleveland Magistrates Court.

There was a verbal exchange between the two before Mr Bugeja drove away.

“When police questioned the defendant he confirmed that he honked his horn and said that he lost it and damaged the driveway,” the police prosecutor said.

His lawyer, Bruce Johnstone, said Mr Bugeja was not paid correctly by the victim.

“The complainant put my client off on three separate occasions after he had organised him and his workers to go over,” Mr Johnstone said.

“At about four or five in the afternoon the client came out with four to five cold beers and asked if he could store it in their coolers.

“He did not even ask the concreters if they wanted a cold drink.

“My client was frustrated, he saw red.

“He did a stupid thing.

“It was a brain snap.

“You would not meet a more gentle gentleman in the community.”

Magistrate Deborah Vasta said people could be greedy.

“It makes me sick the way people are so dishonest, it’s all about greed and money,” Ms Vasta said.

“It sounds like there’s money owed both ways.

“Unfortunately in life you just meet some really unethical people who just seem to want to screw people over.”

Mr Bugeja was put on an 18-month good behaviour bond with $600 recognisance.

No conviction was recorded.