Leon Condron admits to smashing Gunnedah police car window

Leon Condron damaged the marked police truck at Gunnedah Police Station after becoming “frustrated” that officers in his words, were “not listening to him”.

Condron appeared in the dock of Tamworth Local Court and pleaded guilty to malicious damage of the police car, the night before.

Legal Aid solicitor Natasha Wood said the offending “was not sophisticated in any way” and told the court Condron had gone to the station and was “just trying to help them out” in their investigations into drug dealing in the area.

“He sees on the news that they’re seeking information about drug dealers in town,” she said, adding he thought he was doing the right thing.

“He’s of the view they’re not listening to him.”

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Condron was “frustrated” and walked out of the police station and threw a rock at the marked car.

“In view of police, in view of a camera,” Miss Wood said.

He was arrested immediately out the front of the police station and taken inside, questioned by officers and charged and refused bail. He spent the night in custody before his court appearance.

The court heard Condron was on parole at the time, which was due to expire in two weeks but had taken active steps to address his rehabilitation. 

Magistrate Julie Soars scanned Condron’s record, noting he had previously served three months in prison. 

She said Condron was “said to have been intoxicated at the time” but she didn’t believe the threshold for imprisonment had been crossed.

“I don’t know what damage you did to the vehicle,” she said, scanning the police facts. 

“I smashed a window,” Condron replied.

In sentencing, Condron was convicted and placed on a Section 9 good behaviour bond for 18 months and ordered to pay $380 in compensation to police for the repairs to the window.