Nails under woman’s tyres a ‘romantic ruse’

A MAN who placed nails under the tyres of his ex-wife’s car did so in a pathetic attempt to look like a hero when he would come to her rescue, a Toowoomba court heard.

He told Toowoomba Magistrates Court he hoped the nails would make a “small leak”, and he would be a hero when he went to his ex-wife’s aid.

Witnesses who saw the 68year-old placing nails under each of the woman’s four tyres of the car parked on Campbell St, Oakey, had asked what he was doing

“It’s okay, it’s my ex’s car,” he told them, the court heard.

The witnesses took photos and retrieved the nails which they took to police.

Later that same day, the woman had been parked on Campbell St when she saw her ex-partner approaching her car in breach of the domestic violence order and started filming him, police prosecutor Cameron Francis said.

Police arrested the man the next day and spent the night in the watch house from where he appeared via video link on Thursday to plead guilty to two breaches of the domestic violence order.

Mr Francis said the man, who cannot be named, had other breaches of the order and was on bail for alleged breaches of the order.

“He’s a mature man and should know better,” he said.

Duty solicitor Ryan McCullough said his client had separated from his ex-partner about six months ago, and as soon as all of his court matters were finalised he intended returning to Brisbane.

Magistrate Graham Lee said placing nails under the tyres of a car was very serious and had any tyre been punctured it could have had serious consequences for the woman driver or others.

That prompted the defendant to explain that his actions were not intended to harm.

“I was hoping it would be a small leak (in the tyre), and I’d be a hero and go and help her,” he said.

Mr Lee convicted and fined the man $1500.