Jai Crook: man sentenced after destroying community defibrillator at train station

A man with aspirations to work in Queensland Health has been sentenced after he kicked a community defibrillator onto a train track. Read what he has been sentenced to.

Jai Crook, 28, was sentenced at Southport Magistrates Court after he kicked a defibrillator onto train tracks. Picture: Instagram

A man who kicked a community defibrillator onto a train track while on a community service order has been sentenced.

Jai Crook, 28, pleaded guilty to willful damage when he appeared in the Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday, March 27.

The court heard Crook was at Southbank railway station at 12.40am on November 18 where he kicked at the defibrillator attached to a wall, causing it to fall.

Crook picked up the defibrillator and threw it against a glass door before kicking the lifesaving device onto the train tracks and running away.

The court heard that Crook kicked a defibrillator onto the train tracks at Southbank railway station. Picture: Instagram

The court heard the defibrillator was damaged beyond repair and had to be replaced.

At the time, Crook was subject to a probation and community service order.

His defence lawyer Rachel Carson from Howden Saggers Lawyers told the court her client had done 43 and a half hours on the community service order and only had six and a half hours outstanding.

She said Crook was doing everything he could to rehabilitate himself.

The court heard that Crook will be going to a rehabilitation centre. Picture: Facebook

The court heard Crook, who appeared to be dependent on alcohol at the time of the offence, had since placed himself on a mental health care plan and would go to a rehabilitation centre.

Ms Carson said her client had started a certificate in mental health through TAFE but has put it on hold temporarily.

She said he intended to complete the program and find employment in Queensland Health in the mental health industry but is concerned about his criminal history.

Ms Carson asked no conviction be recorded.

“It’s all very speculative, isn't it Ms Carson?” Acting Magistrate Sarah Thompson said. “He hasn’t completed the course so the employment at this point … it’s just an aspiration.”

Ms Thompson accepted there was some explanation for the offending given the family stressors Crook was facing at the time.

“I’m going to afford you a further opportunity to allow a conviction not to be recorded,” she said. “It will be the last time, do you understand?”

He was sentenced to 40 hours of community service.