Blake Anlezark inflicts nightmare attack on stranger he thought stole his cannabis plants

A victim suffered horrific injuries - including holes in his head - at the hands of strangers because they believed he had stolen from them, a court has heard.

STRANGERS inflicted a horrifying assault on a man – leaving him with two holes in his head, a brain bleed and cognitive impairment – because they believed he had stolen their cannabis plants, a court has heard.

In a victim impact statement read to the District Court, the victim detailed the “enormous effect” the assault, carried out by Blake Anlezark, 27, of Reynella and another man, had inflicted on his life.

“Despite having security doors installed, we still do not feel safe,” the victim said. “I am constantly looking over my shoulder and rarely go out.

“I have been unable to sleep at night and when I do, I have nightmares.”

Anlezark pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated serious criminal trespass and causing serious harm with intent over the April 18 attack.

The victim detailed how his mother returned to their Flagstaff Hill home to find the house swarming with police.

She was told her son had been taken to hospital with serious head injuries.

“I didn’t know you and still don’t, which makes it hard to understand why you did what you did,” the victim said in the statement.

He detailed numerous physical injuries, including two fractures to his skull, which caused a bleed on his brain, collapsed lung, jaw fracture, two large holes in his head, a slashed earlobe and stab wound to his leg.

“I am now an outpatient at the Hampstead Brain Injury Clinic,” he said.

The court heard the man’s mother had helped him prepare his victim impact statement due to his cognitive impairment, which also restricted his employment opportunities.

Mark Alessandrini, prosecuting, said the men went to the victim’s home armed with a knife and a hammer or mallet.

“The offences have had a devastating and ongoing impact on the victim,” he said.

“He is unable to hold a driver’s licence, unable to continue working in the field that he was and loved.

“He suffers a continuing post traumatic stress disorder and does not feel safe in his own home.”

Mr Alessandrini said there was a significant need for general deterrence in sentencing because the assault was carried out in circumstances “perceived to be retaliation or retribution”.

Peter Hill, for Anlezark, said his client “was truly sorry for what happened”.

He said Anlezark understood he was likely to serve a lengthy jail term.

“He understands he has made a horrible, horrible, horrible mistake but he is remorseful,” Mr Hill said.

Anlezark’s co-accused, Jack Kenneth Lincoln, 25, of Seaford Rise, last month pleaded guilty in the Christies Beach Magistrates Court to the same offences.

Both men will return to court in November.