Bendigo man Rustyn Woodman horrified to find his car had been vandalised with a homophobic slur

A Bendigo man is living in fear after vandals trashed his car in a vicious hate crime, carving a homophobic slur and flooding the interior with a hose.

Bendigo man Rustyn Woodman, 45, was horrified to find his car smashed and flooded with a sprinkler about 2am on Monday with the homophobic slur “fa***t” written on the side.

The community is rallying behind a gay man who was targeted in a vicious hate crime in Bendigo.

Rustyn Woodman, 45, was horrified to find his car smashed and flooded with a sprinkler about 2am on Monday with the homophobic slur “fa***t” written on the side.

The Bendigo man posted about the horrific damage on Facebook on Monday night saying he was “in such disbelief” that he would be the victim of a hate crime in 2024.

“Finding your car at 1.30am with a smashed window, a sprinkler going full steam inside, water coming out of everywhere like a water feature and ‘faggot’ scratched into the whole side of the car and a d**k in a mouth on the other side really hit me,” Mr Woodman told the Herald Sun.

“I panicked and I was taken straight back to when I was gay bashed in Sydney and left for dead when I was 17.

Bendigo man Rustyn Woodman’s car was smashed and flooded with a sprinkler.

“The main thing here is that the community stay aware that homophobia sadly still exists and to have each others back.”

Mr Woodman said the police were investigating the incident.

“They were here so fast when I called them at 1.45am and they were really sorry for me and said some supportive things,” he said.

“They were young and pro-thinkers ... (I) could tell they were good people.”

The water damage to the car was so extensive it had to be written off and Mr Woodman said he will struggle to pay the insurance excess.

West Bendigo resident Josie Fitt jumped to action upon seeing the damage, starting a GoFundMe page to crowdfund $5000 to help Mr Woodman get back on his feet.

“I’d like to help Rustyn by raising enough to cover his excess cost for insurance plus give him a little bit extra so he is able to put his money towards a half decent car that will last him,” she said.

“Plus to let him know that there are people out there who will have his back when he needs it most.

“Rustyn is a proud member of the LGBTQI+ community and this targeted hate crime is something that he, nor anyone else, deserves to endure in this day and age.

Victoria Police have been contacted about the incident.