Man who drove teens around to slingshot marbles at business, apartments handed community correction order

A man who drove two teenagers around town so they could slingshot marbles at buildings causing nearly $250k worth of damage just wanted to be “one of the boys”.

A man who wanted to be “one of the boys” when he drove two teens around Melbourne so they could slingshot marbles at buildings will continue therapy for his bizarre offending.

Sam Chadwick spent his 51st birthday at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday where he was spared jail after pleading guilty to a spate of vandalism charges committed over more than 60 days across Melbourne.

Chadwick drove around the city at night with two boys who used slingshots and marbles to shatter windows of businesses and apartments, causing nearly $250,000 in damage.

His lawyer previously said his behaviour could be explained by him wanting to be “one of the boys”.

Magistrate Belinda Wallington on Wednesday denounced the vandalism spree, as she handed Chadwick a two-year community correction order and ordered he perform 250 hours of unpaid community work.

The magistrate said 75 hours of counselling, which Chadwick has been undergoing, could count towards the 250 hours of community work.

Sam Chadwick outside the Melbourne Magistrates' Court after facing charges of using a slingshot to cause $1m in damage over four months. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

“A very large amount of damage was done by you,” Ms Wallington said.

“You, as the adult in the situation, a 50-year-old man, didn’t act like an adult.”

The magistrate said one of Chadwick’s victims, a hair salon owner, had been unable to afford to replace the broken front window of her small business.

“She can’t fix it, it’s not a simple process, she’ll have to close her business for a couple days which she can’t afford to do,” she said.

Residents at an apartment block had also experienced anxiety and left wondering why their building had come under attack, she said.

Between October and December 2023, the trio targeted businesses including Jetstar’s headquarters in Collingwood, a Boost Juice in South Yarra, a 24/7 gym in Bentleigh and a spate of apartment complexes, some of which were repeatedly attacked.

Other targets included a supermarket, a fish and chip shop, furniture store, a cycling outlet and several banks located between Bentleigh and Mentone West, with the total damage bill from the vandalism spree exceeding $234,000.

The teenagers slingshotted marbles at buildings across Melbourne. Picture: Supplied

Chadwick’s lawyer Patrick Coleridge told an earlier hearing it was “almost an amusement” that a middle-aged man with no criminal history would be charged with such behaviour – but it could be explained by his dysfunctional childhood.

“He wanted to achieve the approval of the boys. He overly identified with the kids and wanted to be one of the boys,” Mr Coleridge said, pointing to a psychologist’s report into Chadwick’s behaviour.

After his arrest in December 2023, police seized containers filled with marbles and clear glass pebbles, slingshots, illegal fireworks, extendible batons, 17 cannabis plants and almost 1kg in dried cannabis from his home.

Initially charged with more than 100 offences, Chadwick pleaded guilty to 36 charges, most of which were property damage offences.

Chadwick, who emerged wearing sunglasses and a hat, declined to comment as he left court.

The boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons, received diversions in a children’s court.

Originally published as Man who drove teens around to slingshot marbles at business, apartments handed community correction order