Glenn Phillip Marsden: Truck driver fined after scaring driver with hammer and smashing window in Geraldton

A truck driver who left a driver fleeing after approaching her with a hammer in hand, and damaging her window as she drove away, has pleaded guilty and been fined. Glenn Phillip Marsden, 57, appeared in Geraldton Magistrates Court on May 8 after being charged with being armed in a way that may cause fear and criminal damage of property. On the night of December 14, Marsden was driving a truck north along Brand Highway in Mount Tarcoola, when he stopped the truck, blocking the way of a car which was driving behind him with its high beams on. Marsden got out of his truck and approached the car while holding a hammer, which was captured on the victim’s dashcam footage. The victim began to drive away out of fear, crossing an island and over the other side of the road to get around the truck, when Marsden hit the rear window of car, causing $3384 of damage. According to police prosecutor Sergeant Ross Gray, Marsden said he got out of the truck and approached the victim because “she had sat behind me all the way from Dongara with high beams on.” Marsden’s lawyer, Kate Fry, said Marsden had got out of the truck when he spotted the hammer on the ground, which he picked up to clear off the road, and did not intend to use it, describing the scenario as an “unfortunate combination of events” but acknowledged it would have been frightening for the driver. Ms Fry said Marsden hit the victim’s car because he was startled when the car quickly moved past him. Magistrate Kevin Tavener said Marsden had no criminal record and did not appear to have anger management issues but questioned why the experienced truck driver would commit these offences. “It was a very traumatising thing for the victim to go through,” Mr Tavener said. Marsden was fined $1500 and ordered to pay for the damages to the victim’s car.