Stockman sentenced for deflating Queensland police car tyres

A stockman who let down the tyres on a police vehicle has been told his behaviour was stupid, dangerous and much worse than a “silly” act by an intoxicated man.

Court: Hugh Harrison Witham has been sentenced for the wilful damage of police property in the Charters Towers Magistrates Court.

A STOCKMAN who let down the tyres on a police vehicle has been told his behaviour was stupid, dangerous and much worse than a “silly” act by an intoxicated man.

Magistrate Ross Mack told Hugh Harrison Witham, 23, he was tempted to send him outside to deflate the tyres on his own vehicle “and then come back in here and I’ll sentence him, you know, just for the inconvenience of it”.

Mr Mack said perhaps then Witham would understand the inconvenience of the situation.

The court heard Witham was with a co-accused, Beau Robson, in Georgetown at the time the offence was committed.

Each man was charged with wilful damage of a police vehicle.

The pair approached the police vehicle outside the front of the police residence in town and were seen by witnesses deliberately deflating one of the tyres.

Police prosecutor Kelly Mythen said as a result of the duo’s actions the deflated tyre and a second tyre had to be replaced.

Ms Mythen said Robson, 21, appeared before the Emerald Magistrates Court on August 25 and was sentenced to a $400 recognisance for a period of good behaviour of six months, as well as being ordered to pay restitution of $434.76. No conviction was recorded.

Defence solicitor Rebecca Hudson said Witham accepted his actions had been silly, but he had “simply deflated the tyre”.

But Mr Mack said Witham’s actions potentially had far wider ramifications.

“It’s all good fun until someone gets hurt,” Mr Mack said.

“Where was this? In Georgetown. People go missing in Georgetown all the time, so police come to the car expecting the car to be roadworthy and they head half an hour down the road on a busted tyre and they’ve got nowhere else to go.

“And the person they’re going out to help has to wait another day, all because you get drunk and think it’s funny letting a policeman’s tyre down.

“This is stupid and it’s dangerous, and it doesn’t make any sense.”

Mr Mack said the punishment of a good behaviour bond didn’t reflect the seriousness of the situation.

“If you’re an adult you’ve got certain responsibilities that allow you to have a drink and you've still got to have some sense about you after you’ve been drinking,” he said.

“But I think I’m bound by the decision recorded in Emerald.”

Witham was placed on a $400 recognisance for a period of six months and ordered to pay $434.76 in restitution. No conviction was recorded.

MORE

ANGUS LANE’S 30-YEAR CAREER AS AN AG SHOW RING ANNOUNCER

DUBBO’S SUE HOOD DETERMINED SHOWS WILL GO ON

RED MEAT A SHINING LIGHT AS RECESSION HITS