Nicholas Dean Lambley faces Warwick Magistrates Court for causing $6k in damage in drunken rampage

One man’s drunken antics outside a Warwick venue resembled a ‘rampage’ as he racked up thousands of dollars in damage to vehicles in a frightening, destructive spree.

One man’s destructive rampage after drinking with friends at a Warwick pub resulted in a trail of damage leaving members of the public thousands of dollars out of pocket.

Nicholas Dean Lambley pleaded guilty in Warwick Magistrates Court on Monday to four counts of wilful damage, one count each of stealing and one of public nuisance.

The court was told that after a session of drinking at a venue in Warwick’s CBD with friends, Lambley unleashed a spree of terror on vehicles in the venue’s carpark.

Four vehicles were damaged in the attack, which occurred on April 10, costing about $6000 in damages.

The court was told Lambley was captured on CCTV leaving the establishment about 6.40pm, taking a glass in the process, and heading directly to the carpark.

The 22-year-old walked to a vehicle and began to kick it repeatedly, ultimately causing about $2000 in damage to it.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Steve de Lissa told the court Lambley struck the vehicle nine times, with force, before he went on to damage another vehicle.

Nicholas Dean Lambley charges of wilful damage, one of theft and one of public nuisance on Monday July 3

Used a shopping trolley to ram into a car resulting in a repair bill of roughly $3100, Lambley then went on to slam the trolley into another car, causing $300 worth of damages. The mill operator then moved onto his final target, a Hilux, which he caused $740 worth of damages to.

All the while, Lambley and his friends were laughing, the court was told.

Lambley then went a short distance to Percy St, where he stood in the middle of the road in front of traffic where police found him heavily intoxicated about 7pm.

Lambley’s defence lawyer, Philip Crook, said the offending was “out of the usual” for his client, who was employed full-time at a grain mill outside of Warwick.

Mr Crook asked for the magistrate to be lenient in regards to penalty, as restitution payments would be “considerable” and asked for no conviction to be recorded due to lack of criminal history and the man’s young age.

Warwick police station and courthouse.

However, magistrate Andrew Cridland was quick to give lambley a dressing down, labelling his offending as “total anti-community behaviour” and described Lambley’s actions as “unacceptable”.

“This is a drunken rampage by a lout. This is loutish behaviour, you should have some common sense,” Mr Cridland said.

“You say you were so heavily intoxicated that you didn’t remember your actions, that may be an explanation, but it’s not an excuse.”

Mr Cridland described Lambley’s behaviour as “very alarming” and “not acceptable” and said “you found it funny to cause damage, that is totally unacceptable”.

“Because of your behaviour, next time you get your vehicle insurance and it’s going up, I’m sure they will tell you the reason it’s going to say it’s because there are a lot of claims in the area of vehicles being damaged by vandalism and accidents – you need to give back to the community,” the magistrate said.

“The general public of the area can expect to get higher insurance costs because of the way you have carried on and Mr Lambley that is totally unacceptable.”

Lambley was ordered to pay back a restitution fee of $2047.40 and was sentenced to 18 months’ probation, with an added condition prohibiting him from drinking for the duration.

He was also ordered to complete 40 hours of community service.

No conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Nicholas Dean Lambley faces Warwick Magistrates Court for causing $6k in damage in drunken rampage