Customer copped a real slap-up job

MACKAY: When a 66-year-old male customer pulled up in the driveway of Windscreen Magic in Gordon Street hoping to get some service he was yelled at, abused and then slapped in the face by the business owner.

In return, a magistrate has slapped a $500 fine on business operator Christine Kidd.

The bizarre behaviour occurred on August 18 when the male customer phoned Windscreen Magic and made inquiries about getting a chip repaired in his car windscreen.

He was told he could come straight over.

At 9.10am he drove to the business and pulled up in the driveway of the main entrance, prosecutor Constable Tania Cutler told the Mackay Magistrates Court on Monday.

At this point, he realised he might be blocking the entrance so he tried to reverse out. Ms Kidd then came out and verbally abused him.

He asked where he could park and she said: “I don’t care. Get the (expletive) out of here”.

She then hit her hands downward on the window sill and then she slapped the man in the face.

Ms Kidd pleaded guilty to seriously assaulting a person over 60 years of age and contravening a police requirement to provide her particulars.

Solicitor Robyn Cathcart, of Strutynski Law, said the incident had devastating consequences for Ms Kidd who suffered a breakdown.

Her business had been suffering at the time and the assault was out of character. Visiting magistrate Neil Lavaring said he took into account that the incident was an event that got out of hand and the victim was not injured.