Gregory James Hampstead smashed a police station help phone in half

The early morning incident was captured on CCTV footage which ultimately helped police catch the offender.

A man damaged a police help phone outside the Yeppoon Police Station.

A man has faced court for damaging police property after he took his frustration out on a police help phone.

Gregory James Hampstead, 42, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on November 18 to wilfully damaging police property.

The court heard that at 3am on October 1, Hamstead went to Yeppoon Police Station to use the “blue phone” at the front of the building.

This phone can be used by members of the public for emergencies, to report crime, or if any police assistance is required whatsoever.

Hamstead used the phone to contact PoliceLink and he had a conversation with an operator.

After using the phone, he started striking the phone handset on the metal housing.

“The defendant snapped the phone handset in half,” Police Prosecutor Pete Rumford said.

“The offence was captured on CCTV footage.”

At a later date, police spoke with Hamstead, who said he did not remember smashing the phone but he did remember getting a lift home that night.

Solicitor Krissy Cummins said Hamstead was intoxicated on the night of the offence but he accepted what had happened.

She explained that Hamstead had been going through personal issues at the time and he had “made a poor decision to get drunk”.

The court heard Hamstead’s criminal history consisted mostly of drug offences.

Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale fined Hamstead $500 and a conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Gregory James Hampstead smashed a police station help phone in half