A 36 year-old man has been sentenced to 5 years and 1 month in jail over a rampage in Strathmerton where he stabbed a man and then broke into his home and beat him with an iron bar while he was on the phone calling for help.
Christopher James Jones was sentenced in the Country Court after being found guilty by a jury of aggravated burglary, making a threat to kill, two counts of intentionally causing serious injury and intentionally damaging property.
The jury rejected a defence of mental impairment and during sentencing Judge Carolene Gwynn said while Jones likely had an anti-social personality disorder which combined with alcohol and drug use had caused delusions including hearing the victim threatening to kill his grandmother.
“They do little to explain your actions, which were brutal and vengeful,” Judge Gwynn said.
Judge Glynn said prior to the attack Jones had been told to leave another Strathmerton home where a friend and his girlfriend had argued. Jones has offered to “sort her out” meaning to kill her, a threat that was taken seriously enough to evict him.
The court heard Jones then went to the home of Glenn Madgewick, calling out ““If there’s any gay people in your house I’m going to kill you.”
When Mr Madgewick came outside to ask him to leave, he was stabbed repeatedly in the leg, back and face with a box cutter.
The victim fled inside, but while he was on the phone to emergency services Jones smashed windows and entered the home carrying an iron bar with shotgun shell seated in one end.
Jones tried unsuccessfully to detonate the cartridge with a knife before swinging the bar at the victims head.
“When you swung the iron bar at Mr Madgewick he raised his left hand, he gave evidence that all the bones in his hand were broken,” Judge Gwynn said.
“Given what had already happened no doubt he was terrified.”
Judge Gwynn said Jones’ conduct was extremely serious offending which has had a profound and ongoing impact on the victim.
The court heard Jones, who was born in prison, had endured a childhood of deprivation, leaving school after grade five and using heroin by age 14.
Judge Gwynn said his 20-year criminal history was “riddled with violence” and he had not been deterred by previous jail terms meaning weight had to be given to community protection.
“Your prospects for rehabilitation are guarded, if not poor,” Judge Gwynn said.
Jones was sentenced to a total of 5 years and 1 month jail and will have to serve 3 years 8 months before being eligible for parole.