A baby boomer caught on camera keying a Tesla with his wife in a shopping centre car park has blamed drivers for the way they act on the road, fuming: ‘I’m fed up’.
Raymond Edwards, 70, told Daily Mail he and his wife Barbara’s actions at Brookside Shopping Centre in Brisbane’s inner north last October were ‘completely out of character’.
Standing outside his home, Mr Edwards said he and Barbara had let frustration get the better of them after they were ‘cut off’ and almost forced into a power pole by a white Tesla and white BMW about 800m from the shops.
The couple then tried to get their revenge – but were caught out by the Tesla’s sentry mode, which records threats on video. They were also seen keying the BMW.
Mr Edwards admitted keying the cars was wrong before launching into a tirade about the behaviour of motorists, also declaring that he’d never own an electric vehicle and would ‘stand there and clap’ if he ever saw a Tesla on fire at the roadside.
‘I regret our actions, but the thing is, courtesy has been thrown out the window and stupidity has been thrown in,’ Mr Edwards said.
Raymond Edwards, 70, (pictured) a baby boomer caught on camera keying a Tesla with his wife in a shopping centre car park, has blamed drivers for the way they act on the road
Mr Edwards, a motorsport enthusiast, told Daily Mail he and his wife Barbara’s actions at Brookside Shopping Centre in Brisbane ‘s inner north last October were ‘out of character’
Mr Edwards admitted he had let frustration get the better of him after being ‘cut off’ by a white Tesla and white BMW. The couple then tried to get their revenge at the shopping centre – but were caught out by the Tesla’s sentry mode, which records threats (pictured)
Mr Edwards has since invested in a dashboard camera so he has evidence to provide authorities next time he and Barbara are run off the road.
‘I see people driving irresponsibly all the time and you see the police travelling nearby doing nothing.’
Mr Edwards, who says he’s never had a criminal conviction, said in 50-plus years of driving he could count on one hand the number of traffic infringements he was guilty of.
‘Whoever teaches these people how to drive need to have a good hard look at themselves,’ he said.
Last week the couple were sentenced after being caught on camera keying the luxury vehicles.
Mr Edwards was ordered to pay $2443.61 in restitution for the damage caused to the Tesla and the BMW, while Mrs Edwards was ordered to pay the remaining $897.25 for Tesla repair work.
Mr Edwards, pictured keying they Tesla, has since invested in a dashboard camera so he has evidence to provide authorities next time he and wife Barbara are run off the road
Mr Edwards, who says he’s never had a criminal conviction, said in 50-plus years of driving he could count on one hand the number of traffic infringements he was guilty of
As they left court, the couple were shielded by their family and friends with umbrellas in a bid to escape being photographed.
‘It’s cost me close to $5,000 – I plan to pay $50 a fortnight until its paid off’ he says.
Mr Edwards claims he has suffered a heart attack in recent months and his wife remains ‘in poor health’
He said the couple have been vilified online and harassed by the public in the months since the incident.
‘We had a rock thrown at our house, it bounced off the railing but could have smashed through a window,’ he said.
Mr Edwards also claims the pair have unjustly been issued a life ban from Brookside Shopping Centre.
Mr Edwards says he is a high-performance car enthusiast, often posing with racing vehicles and attending Supercars events such as the Bathurst 1000.
Mr Edwards’ (centre) wife Barbara (pictured left) shielded her face with a face mask as the couple exited court in December
The couple were shielded by their family and friends with umbrellas in a bid to escape being photographed
‘Keyboard warriors have made all kinds of accusations – one said we keyed a Ford Mustang, which is crazy – I support blue (Ford) all the way’.
However, one car Mr Edwards says he doesn’t plan on getting behind the wheel of any time sooner is an electric vehicle.
‘Electric cars – I’d never buy one, not that I could afford one,’ he said.
‘I’d love to see a Tesla pulled up on the side of the road on fire.
‘I’d get out and I’d stand there and I’d clap.’
Brookside shopping centre have been sought for comment.