SIX men crashed a neighbourhood party armed with wooden planks and crutches before assaulting those inside in an alcohol-fuelled attack, a court has heard.
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Three men involved in the Ballarat East attack at Stockade Street on May 25 – James Davies, 21, Andrew Doherty, 23, and Brandon Trewin, 19 – all pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated burglary, intentionally causing injury and affray at a County Court sitting in Ballarat on Monday.
Reading from James Davies’ statement to police, crown prosecutor Andrew Moore told the court Doherty and another co-accused approached a gathering outside the party asking if anyone had been performing burnouts in their car, after which a fight ensued before Doherty and a co-accused fled to a nearby property.
The court heard Davies, Trewin and two other men met Doherty and a co-accused at their property and found them armed with wooden planks.
Mr Moore said the gang of six then walked around the corner to the party, arming themselves with wood and other items as they went.
The court heard the men smashed the back door of the Stockade Street property before assaulting a number of people and throwing a bar stool at the head of a woman who had thrown it in self defence. The men also smashed a number of items in the house, causing $8172 worth of damage.
Mr Moore read out six victim impact statements which detailed the trauma experienced by the group subjected to the violence.
One victim said he felt “disgusted” at the actions of the accused and lived a sheltered life as a result of the attack.
Mr Moore said in light of Davies and Trewin’s assistance to the prosecution – both will give evidence at a committal hearing for a co-accused at Ballarat Magistrates Court on Wednesday – and their limited role in the attack, a community corrections order (CCO) would be suitable.
However, he said a term of imprisonment was suitable for Doherty given his prior history of alcohol-related violence.
Judge David Parsons said the men “wreaked havoc” on people who were “quietly going about their business”.
Davies and Trewin were assessed for a CCO and will be sentenced on Tuesday while Doherty’s case was adjourned to Melbourne County Court on December 19.