Thomas Matthew Gray jailed for discharging firearm during violent Port Lincoln home invasion

A man “infatuated” with his drug associate fired a shot during a bizarre home invasion, before bashing him and forcing him to come to his house.

A former supermarket manager “infatuated” with his victim fired a shot during a terrifying home invasion to scare him.

Thomas Matthew Gray, 30, was jailed for over four years after he bashed the victim and forced him to come to his house.

During sentencing on Friday, the District Court heard Gray became infatuated with the 22-year-old victim who was part of the same drug subculture in Port Lincoln.

The victim cut off contact with Gray after his conduct became controlling and threatening.

The court heard the victim saw Gray standing outside his house on his security cameras on October 5, 2021.

Thomas Gray was jailed for the violent home invasion. Photo: File

Gray managed to break in through a window, while the victim hid in a bathroom.

“You found the complainant in the bathroom, you told him he had to come with you,” Auxiliary Judge Gordon Barrett said.

Eventually the victim agreed to Gray’s threats but managed to grab a jimmy from his bedroom and hit Gray with it.

Gray then took out a homemade firearm, which he loaded.

“You fired the firearm to scare him, you then hit him multiple times to the head – you were wearing heavy rings on your fingers,” Auxiliary Judge Barrett said.

Under threats the victim went with Gray to his house, but police arrived shortly after – having been called by the victim’s mother.

The court heard Gray allowed him to go to the door to police under promises he would tell police he was fine.

Police searched the house and found Gray hiding behind a fridge, still holding the firearm.

Gray, of Port Lincoln, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including criminal trespass, discharging a firearm and assault causing harm.

The court heard Gray was unable to explain the reason for his offending, other than that he was on drugs.

During sentencing submissions, the court heard Gray was previously working at a supermarket in a management role and had stopped using drugs but fell back into his “insidious” addiction.

The court heard Gray had written a letter of apology to the victim and planned to live in the northern suburbs upon his release.

Auxiliary Judge Barrett said the offending would have been terrifying for the victim.

He sentenced Gray to four years and three months jail, with a non-parole period of two years and 10 months.

The sentence was backdated to October 5, 2021.