Wesley Tyce smashed Moss Vale Courthouse, Moss Vale Hotel windows

A man has been granted bail after drinking a bag of goon and going on a short-lived crime spree that saw him smash the historic Moss Vale Courthouse and 171-year-old Moss Vale Hotel.

A man has been granted bail after drinking a bag of goon and going on a short-lived crime spree that saw him smash up two historic Moss Vale institutions and resist arrest.

Tyce Wesley, 48, appeared in Moss Vale Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to 10 charges related to a drunken bout of damaging property.

The temporary Moss Vale resident pleaded guilty to four counts of intentionally damaging property; three counts of larceny; being armed with the intent of committing an indictable offence; and resisting an officer. He is yet to enter a plea to the remaining charge of common assault.

Wesley Tyce has been charged with damaging the Moss Vale courthouse after he threw rocks and an ashtray at the historical building. Picture: Adelaide Lang

According to the fact sheet tendered to the court, Wesley approached the rear of the Moss Vale Hotel at around 8.40pm on November 22 and punched the glass door with his fist five times while yelling.

The facts state his right hand went through one of the glass doors, cutting his hand and destroying the door. The neighbouring glass door was also damaged, according to the facts.

When police arrived on scene, the court documents show they arrested Wesley and noted he was very drunk and struggling to walk. In their record, officers noted he had a goon bag in his hand and smelled strongly of liquor.

The former woodcutter resisted arrested and repeatedly told the police to “f*** off” according to the facts. He was taken to hospital for treatment of his injuries.

The police facts state Wesley “appears to have a significant dislike” of the historic buildings because he was back a week and a half later to do more damage. At around 5.45pm on December 1, the facts show Wesley stole a $10 glass ashtray from the Moss Vale Hotel and walked to the rear of the Moss Vale Courthouse.

According to the facts, Wesley smashed a window by throwing the ashtray, which was found inside later. He then returned to the nearby Moss Vale Hotel to steal another ashtray, which he pegged at the window of the court registry, the facts state.

Although difficult to see in the photo, there are sizeable dents in the large picture windows. Picture: Adelaide Lang

The marks on the glass are hard to see in the photo but are very obvious in reality. Picture: Adelaide Lang

The facts state he then looked around for another object to throw before grabbing a piece of concrete, which he used to smash a second pane of glass.

Wesley returned to the scene of the crime again the next morning at 10am to throw a glass ashtray at the court registry window, according to the facts. The facts state the room was occupied by court staff serving customers at the time, but thankfully the blinds prevented the ashtray from harming anyone.

When the police arrived, the court documents show Wesley rushed at an officer with two glass ashtrays in his hands. He was physically taken down to the footpath to prevent him from doing further damage to the courthouse, according to police.

Police allege Wesley was being assessed at Bowral and District Hospital that afternoon when he started yelling and spat on a mental health worker.

The court heard he was taken to Chisholm Ross Centre in relation to a psychotic illness but has since been discharged.

His lawyer Timothy McGrath said Wesley had consumed a bottle of vodka before the offences.

“He has no recollection of the events – only having some knowledge of taking a train (into the area),” he said.

The court heard Wesley has a “lengthy criminal history” marked with similar offences of violence and property damage.

A window had to be boarded up at Moss Vale Courthouse. Picture: Adelaide Lang

Police prosecutor David Borg told the court there was a strong likelihood the offender would commit further offences if he was given bail.

“Particularly with how it happened – three incidents only a few hours apart,” Mr Borg said.

Magistrate Geraldine Beattie acknowledged the seriousness of the offences, as well as Wesley’s “vulnerability to mental health issues.”

“Clearly there’s concerns with the nature of the offences,” she said.

“Now that you’ve had some time in Chisholm Ross, the concerns can be mitigated by bail conditions.”

Magistrate Beattie granted bail but included strict bail conditions which prohibit Wesley from leaving his Moss Vale residence between 6pm at night and 7am in the morning.

Wesley will return to Moss Vale Court on February 22 next year.