Dylan Jackson in Ingham court on wilful damage charge in Lucinda
An alcoholic loner has been praised for turning his life around after dousing a neighbour’s vehicles in pink paint during a botched midnight raid.
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A chronic alcoholic and depressed loner has been praised by a magistrate for turning his life around after admitting to using pink paint to vandalise two vehicles parked near his North Queensland home.
Dylan Gordon Jackson, 32, pleaded guilty in the Ingham Magistrates Court on Thursday to the sole charge of wilful damage in the bizarre incident in Lucinda, Hinchinbrook, on September 10 last year.
Prosecutor Nathan Smith said the victims contacted police to complain that the defendant had visited their property early that morning “and poured pink paint over their Landcruiser and Lexus sedan, which was parked in their carport in the front of their residence”.
He said the defendant was seen approaching and leaving the home on CCTV wearing “dark-coloured” clothing.
The police prosecutor said the paint was able to be “buffed” off the Landcruiser but caused $2071 worth of damage to the Lexus, describing the offending as “somewhat strange”.
Defence lawyer Darren Robinson said his client had successfully completed the Salvation Army’s seven-day detox and three-month alcohol-rehabilitation programs.
“Mr Jackson has been very unwell for over 10 years … (he) was drinking three litres of wine per day and hence the admission into the rehab centre,” he said.
“He hasn’t drunk since being released.”
Mr Robinson said Jackson had subsequently been diagnosed with depression and was now taking medication prescribed by his GP.
“Mr Jackson is 32 years of age, he’s single, he lives with his mother, he’s never been married, he has never been in a relationship since high school, he describes himself as a person who pretty well keeps to himself; he has a very small network of friends.”
He said his client, a commercial fisherman, had not worked since August 2024 due to his alcoholism.
“But to his credit, after today is finished, he has a job to go to with a previous employer,” he said.
“His boss is also a reformed alcoholic and doesn’t drink so it’s good company for him, so he’s taking the right steps.”
Mr Robinson conceded his client had been involved in another “trespass” incident when drunk involving the same victims, who lived about 50 metres from his mother’s house.
“He’s really remorseful … it is a really unusual matter … if the rehab works, we will never see him (in court) again.”
Magistrate Cathy McLennan said the offending was “fairly serious” but said his rehabilitation was “very impressive” and the crime “out of character”.
“You have taken the offence … as a major wake-up call and followed the excellent advice of your lawyer, not only for these charges, but for your life.”
Jackson agreed, saying that if his life had continued the way it had, “I would probably die”.
He was ordered to pay restitution and “not further punished”.
No conviction was recorded.
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Originally published as Dylan Jackson in Ingham court on wilful damage charge in Lucinda
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