Samuel Tindall faces Ballarat court over mistaken confrontation with homeowner

A homeowner confronted by a Gippsland man making demands at his door fought him back by spraying him in the face with a fire extinguisher.

Samuel Tindall was repelled by a fire extinguisher when he confronted the wrong homeowner. Picture: File

A Yarram man who showed up and made demands at the wrong house while asking for “Nick” was beaten back by a face full of fire extinguisher foam, a court has heard.

Samuel Tindall, 48, appeared by video at Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Thursday and pleaded guilty to wilful damage and unlawful assault.

The court heard Tindall went to a person’s property alongside an unknown man in October 2023.

The unknown man broke the palings of a fence and Tindall began banging on the home’s door, asking repeatedly for “Nick” to “wake up”.

The house’s occupant came to the door and asked what was going on, explaining nobody named Nick lived at the residence.

Tindall faced Ballarat Magistrates’ Court by video on Thursday. Picture: File

When Tindall grabbed him by the front of his shirt, the man picked up a fire extinguisher, squirted Tindall in the face with foam, and yelled out “Go and get the gun” – despite not owning one – to intimidate him.

Tindall then departed, with his companion returning to say: “Sorry mate, we got the wrong house.”

When he was arrested, Tindall told police he thought the home was the residence of someone who had been banging on his own door the previous night.

The court heard Tindall had thought the firearm was real, and said, “Please don’t shoot me” to the “little fellow” who “straightaway launched into him” during the offending.

Magistrate Mike Wardell denied Tindall a diversion, saying his actions were “too serious” and that it “could have been an even uglier situation than it was”.

He sentenced Tindall to a 12-month good behaviour bond without conviction.

Tindall must also pay $50 to repair the fence and make a $400 donation to the court.