Stephen Matthew Seeley faces Rockhampton Court for damaging Park Avenue home

A man’s drunken antics behind the wheel caused $19,000 in damage to a Rockhampton home. It came three years after he himself was injured in a crash involving a drunk driver. SEE HOW IT UNFOLDED

Three years after he was injured in a crash involving a drunk driver, a man will now have to cough up thousands in compensation for his own drunken antics behind the wheel.

Stephen Matthew Seeley will have to sell a car in order to pay a more than $19,000 compensation bill after his car hit another, pushing it into a home and causing significant structural damage.

Seeley, 58, pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on Friday to one count of dangerous operation of a vehicle while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance.

About 4pm on April 28, 2021 Seeley was seen driving down Main Street in Park Avenue where he then slowed down in front of a property in the street, pointed at a witness and said ‘you’re next’.

Seeley then turned onto Farrell Street and drove at speed, fishtailing three or four times.

He then approached the intersection of Farrell and Tung Yeen streets and failed to brake before he hit the kerb and became airborne.

Seeley’s car collided with a RAV4, which was parked in the front yard of the victim’s home, causing it to hit the bottom of the home and cause “severe” damage to both cars and the home.

Civilian police prosecutor Courtney Brown told the court a total of $19,119 was sought in restitution for works that were done to repair damage to the home.

Stephen Matthew Seeley was sentenced in the Rockhampton Magistrates Court for dangerous operation over a vehicle.

The court heard Seeley had a BAC reading of about .113 at the time of the incident.

“There was potential for grave danger to human life in this incident,” Ms Brown said.

Ms Brown said Seeley had a history of getting behind with wheel intoxicated, but didn’t have a dangerous operation offence in his history.

“There was potential for catastrophe and the defendant has unfortunately caused quite a bit of damage to this residence,” she said.

CCTV footage of the incident was played in the courtroom before Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale who noted “a picture speaks a thousand words”.

Seeley’s lawyer Brian McGowran said there had been animosity between Seeley and another homeowner down the road from where the incident occurred and the incident was a “total accident”.

Stephen Matthew Seeley was ordered to pay more than $19,000 in restitution after his dangerous driving caused "severe" damage to a Park Avenue home.

Stephen Matthew Seeley was ordered to pay more than $19,000 in restitution after his dangerous driving caused "severe" damage to a Park Avenue home.

Mr McGowran told the court his client was adamant he was trying to hit the brakes before the car crashed, however examination of the vehicle found there was nothing wrong with the car.

He said the only explanation he could think of was Seeley was hitting the accelerator instead of the brake.

Mr McGowran said his client was injured in a serious crash which involved a drunk driver in 2018 and underwent a number of surgeries.

He said Seeley conceded that he shouldn’t have been in the car after drinking.

Seeley was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment which was wholly suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to pay the $19,119.07 restitution which was referred to SPER.

Originally published as Stephen Matthew Seeley faces Rockhampton Court for damaging Park Avenue home