Zac Drayson: Home and Away star in court for Bondi road rage
A magistrate has unloaded on a former soap star, describing him as childish, spoilt and a coward for getting involved in an ugly incident over a parking spot in Bondi’s Westfield.
Wentworth Courier
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A former Home and Away star told police “I was having a bad day” after getting involved in an ugly parking dispute at Westfield Bondi Junction in which he keyed a woman’s car.
Zac Lowell Drayson, 37, best known for his role playing Will Smith on popular television show Home and Away during the late 1990s and early 2000s, appeared in Waverley Local Court on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to one charge of intentionally or recklessly destroy/damage property.
The parking dispute took place when Mr Drayson – who now works as a medical equipment technician – drove his vehicle into a Westfield Bondi Junction car park during the afternoon of Saturday, September 28 last year.
After circling the car park, Mr Drayson and another driver spotted a car pulling out of a space, before both waiting with their indicator on.
The victim reversed her VW Tiguan into the parking spot before Mr Drayson got out of his vehicle and confronted the victim.
“The accused has yelled a barrage of insults as a result of his frustration,” the agreed facts stated.
The victim replied “I had my indicator on too” before Mr Drayson walked off back to his vehicle.
However, the Randwick man returned a short time later to the victim’s car and used his keys to scratch a deep mark down the side of her VW, damaging two panels.
The incident was caught on CCTV footage and police contacted Mr Drayson asking him to come into Paddington Police Station.
He was shown CCTV images of the incident and made admissions that it was him.
During an interview with police he said “I was having a bad day and this was the cherry on top, I’ve never done anything like this before”.
Police noted he showed genuine signs of remorse and he told police he would be happy to pay any compensation.
Magistrate Greg Grogin sentenced him to a conditional release order for two years without a conviction and ordered him to pay compensation of $1445, but first scolded him over his behaviour.
“When I was reading these facts three words came to mind,” Magistrate Grogin said. “One: childish. Two: cowardish. Three: spoiled.”
He said Mr Drayson’s behaviour was unacceptable.
“You are standing before me as a father and a worker and you are otherwise of good character … you should be ashamed of yourself.”
He added it was becoming too common for younger generations to lash out when they became frustrated rather than display self control.
“When I was younger if you were cross you would just suck it up. You would not go and damage other people’s property.”