Craig Stoneham: Forklift driver sentenced after injuring workmate over ‘slacker’ slur

A forklift driver in Melbourne’s west has been sentenced after he ran over and injured his colleague who called him “slacker” in a bitter workplace feud.

A forklift driver in Melbourne’s west that ran over a colleague who called him a “slacker” and a “dog” in a bitter workplace feud has been fined $5000.

Craig Stoneham, from St Albans, appeared in Sunshine Magistrates’ Court on Monday for sentencing after pleading guilty to breaching the occupational health and safety act.

The court previously heard Stoneham had an ongoing squabble with a 49-year-old labourer who regularly made disparaging remarks about his “work ethic” at a gas distribution centre in Sunshine.

WorkSafe prosecutor Morgan Brown said the conflict came to a head on October 10, 2019, when the labourer approached Stoneham’s stationary forklift and called him a “slacker”.

“He made comments to the accused saying: ‘you’re nothing but a dog mate’ before walking off,” she said.

The forklift driver of more than 30 years then “aggressively” accelerated at the labourer striking him and running over his leg.

“The injured party has a memory of being dragged along the ground,” Ms Brown said. “He was left with a broken foot and abrasions.”

Forklift driver Craig Stoneham, 57, has pleaded guilty to hitting a colleague who made disparaging remarks about his "work ethic" on October 10, 2019.

She said that while the offending showed a “high level of moral culpability”, WorkSafe Victoria accepted this was out-of-character for the 57-year-old.

Stoneham was fired from his job at Air Liquide Australia as a result of the incident but continues to work as a forklift driver for contract labour hire companies.

His lawyer, Ashlea Patterson told the court the “impulsive actions” clearly occurred in the context of an ongoing disagreement between the two men.

She said this was the first time the “hard working” man had been charged with an offence and he had written a letter of remorse accepting responsibility for the injuries.

“I only meant to tap him on the bum, I didn’t mean to run over his foot,” Stoneham told WorkSafe investigators after the crash.

The injured man was present in court as Magistrate Amani Bhai said there was “no doubt” the injuries would have had a significant impact on Stoneham’s former colleague.

“I accept this offending was out-of-character for you and your risk of reoffending is low,” she said.

“But I must impose a sentence that deters others. The circumstances of your offending warrant a conviction and substantial fine.”

Stoneham was ordered to pay a $5000 fine and court costs of $1946.