Man fined over car damage

A Karratha man has been fined $800 for punching a Toyota Prado while drunk that belonged to the neighbour of his partner. Paul Purcell was sentenced in Karratha Magistrate’s Court last Wednesday after pleading guilty to property damage earlier this year. Purcell approached the car owner’s house about 8pm on July 6 in Baynton. The car owner’s wife recognised Purcell and said “oh, it’s you” before yelling as Purcell tried to open the flyscreen door. The car owner had been asleep and then woke up and asked Purcell to leave and told his wife to call police. Purcell then walked over to the Toyota Prado parked in the driveway punched the rear left of the vehicle causing $3000 damage. Police forensics attended and did a DNA swab of the vehicle which returned a positive match for Purcell. Magistrate Michelle Ridley said being intoxicated explained Purcell’s actions but did not excuse them. She noted Purcell’s early plea of guilty and lack of criminal record when issuing the $800 fine and accepted it was out of character. Magistrate Ridley denied Purcell’s application for a spent conviction.