David Gardiner: ADFA student keyed woman’s car after romantic rejection, court told

A naval officer had a skin full of booze and keyed a “contemptible slogan” down the side of a woman’s car after she rebuffed his romantic advances.

A naval officer had a skin full of booze and keyed a “contemptible slogan” down the side of a woman’s car after suffering a romantic rejection.

Midshipman David Peter Christian Gardiner, a 23-year-old ADFA student, faced the Defence Force Magistrates Court in Canberra on Thursday where he pleaded guilty to property damage.

Gardiner, originally from Perth, admitted he stayed up into the early hours of the morning one night in September last year calling and messaging a woman.

The woman did not respond, so Gardiner got up, found her car, and scratched the word “c**t” into the paint and broke off one of her rear view mirrors.

The court heard Gardiner then messaged a mate, saying: “I keyed that bitch’s car”.

Midshipman David Peter Christian Gardiner, 23, scratched the word “c**t” into a woman’s car.

Midshipman David Peter Christian Gardiner, 23, had been out drinking before he started texting the woman.

Military prosecutor Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Fielden said Gardiner had been out drinking at Canberra’s Zoo Bar the night he defaced the car.

Lieutenant Colonel Fielden said Gardiner’s conduct was “despicable behaviour” and that the navy had worked hard to stamp out drunken misconduct towards women.

“It needs to be called our for what it is,” he said.

He said Gardiner had “bragged” about his conduct, although Defence Force Magistrate Commander Greg Sirtes SC said Gardiner’s message to his mate was a confession rather than bragging.

Military defence lawyer Major David Healey said Gardiner’s reputation had taken a blow among his peers since being charged.

“I say that it is a form of extra-curial punishment that has already been inflicted upon my client, him having to walk the corridors of ADFA knowing that people are discussing what has occurred and questioning his character,” he said.

Midshipman David Peter Christian Gardiner, 23, hopes for a long military career.

Major Healey said Gardiner had apologised and paid a $1200 bill for spray painting and panel beating.

Major Healey said Gardiner “would not be a liability to the ADF as an officer in the navy”.

Commander Sirtes said the victim had to endure having her car publicly branded with the offensive word until it was repaired.

But he said Gardiner had a lot to offer the navy, and that sacking him would have seen him lumped with a large debt to cover the cost of his education so far.

“Your conduct and behaviour was unbecoming as a member and an officer of the Royal Australian Navy,” he said.

He said he hoped Gardiner’s drunken antics would one day be “a footnote” to a successful military career.

The court heard Gardiner expects to be posted to HMAS Watson in Sydney next year.

Commander Sirtes convicted Gardiner, fined him $1963, and issued him a severe reprimand.