Frank Short smashed windscreen and headlight with a golf club in bout of car park rage

The reason why a 66-year-old man smashed a woman’s windscreen and headlight in a shopping centre car park has been revealed in court.

A 66-year-old man smashed a woman’s windscreen and headlight in a shopping centre car park because he thought she had almost run over him on a pedestrian crossing.

Witnesses claim the car was not close to hitting Frank Short in the Southport Park Shopping Centre car park on July 29 last year, the Southport Magistrates Court was told.

Short pleaded guilty on Wednesday to going armed to cause fear and wilful damage.

Prosecutor Gavin Reece said the victim was driving through the car park about 5.20pm when the incident at the pedestrian crossing occurred.

He said Short later told police the car almost hit him but witnesses told officers that was not the case.

Mr Reece said after the incident Short threw items at the woman’s car door, including a bottle that broke.

The woman followed Short to get his number plate in case any damage had been done to her car.

She did not leave the car, the court was told.

“Short proceeded to the boot of his vehicle and grabbed a golf club and raised it in an aggressive manner,” Mr Reece said.

“He has struck the victim’s car with the golf club.”

Mr Reece said Short struck the car so many times he smashed the windscreen and a headlight.

“She attempted to reverse in an effort to leave but made contact with a pole, damaging the front of her car,” he said.

Defence lawyer Allanah Patron, of Brooke Winter Solicitors, handed up a six-page psychological report.

The court was told Short suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder after he was assaulted at work in 2014.

Ms Patron said Short was currently on workers compensation benefits which were going to end in May.

She said since the incident Short had undergone an anger management program and engaged with his treating mental health doctors.

Magistrate John McInnes placed Short on a $500 good behaviour bond for 12 months and ordered he pay $300 in compensation. No conviction was recorded.

He said he took into account Short’s mental health, that he had undergone treatment and his financial position.

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