Home

Tarrin Mark French-A’Court charged over trespassing incident at Baldivis Farm

Tyra PetersSound Telegraph
Tarrin Mark French-A’Court, 28, caused an estimated $12,000 worth of damages to Baldivis farm.
Camera IconTarrin Mark French-A’Court, 28, caused an estimated $12,000 worth of damages to Baldivis farm. Credit: Tyra Peters/Sound Telegraph

A Baldivis man has been heavily fined and slapped with a community service order after an alcohol-fuelled vandalism rampage that led to $12,000 in damages to a Baldivis farm.

Tarrin Mark French-A’Court, 28, appeared before Rockingham Magistrates Court on Friday and pleaded guilty to one count each of criminal damage, graffiti damage and trespassing.

Prosecutor Jessica Anderson told the court that between March 26 and 28, French-A’Court had been drinking with his stepbrother when the pair decided to go for a drive. It was then that they came across the Baldivis farm and approached the front gate, where French-A’Court broke the padlock, forcing it open.

Upon gaining access to the property, French-A’Court and his stepbrother went on to smash the windows of two tractors and another farm vehicle.

The pair proceeded to vandalise the farmhouse, spray paint the word ‘crest’ on the side of a panel van and paint the tyres pink.

“They did not have permission to be on the property,” Senior Constable Anderson said.

Duty lawyer Carmelo Zagami said that despite having made “three requests to WA Police, he has not been provided with any information as to why the co-accused hadn’t been charged over the incident”.

“Your honour, my client is 28 years of age and has told me about his anxiety issues that he has faced due to a traumatic upbringing,” Mr Zagami said.

“On the night of the offending, he allowed his stepbrother to stay with him at his home in Baldivis; it was there that the two had been drinking and mixed a combination of Xanax medication with alcohol.

“It was then that French-A’Court hopped inside the vehicle and drove him and his stepbrother around, before selecting the Baldivis property at random.”

Mr Zagami said that his client had “no recollection of the incident” and “no explanation” as to why he participated in the offending.

“He is now seeking some professional medical assistance to address his needs and regrets his actions,” he said.

Magistrate Richard Huston said the incident would have caused a “massive disruption to the farmer”.

Mr Huston said it was “quite baffling with regards to how much damage was caused”.

“Make no mistake, the court recognises your behaviour as incredibly malicious,” he said.

French-A’Court was ordered to complete a 12-month community-based order with 90 hours of community work, fined $1500 for trespassing and $3500 for criminal damage, with $264.30 in court costs.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails