Father and his two children among group who stabbed, forced man to eat dog food

A father and his two adult children were among a group who stabbed a man and forced him to eat dog food because he stole items including a sex toy, a court has heard.

A father and his two children were among a group who stabbed a man and forced him to eat dog food because they believed he stole items including a sex toy, a court has heard.

The victim says he feared for his life during the ordeal and was left was so traumatised he now struggles to eat pizza or meat.

The District Court was told Barry Williams, his daughter Janise Mai Cox, 23, and son Nelson Jeffrey John Cox, 24, were joined by the victim at an Elizabeth North home in August 2019.

They used methamphetamine together, before Clinton John Thwaites and another man arrived at the property and the victim was held captive in the lounge room.

Janise Cox became involved after she learned her vibrator and MP3 player had been found in the victim’s bag, while a knife that belonged to Williams was also missing.

Janise Mai Cox was among a group who stabbed a man and forced him to eat dog food. Picture: Facebook

Nelson Jeffrey John Cox has pleaded guilty to multiple charges over the attack. Picture: Facebook

Judge Liesl Chapman said, on the prosecution case, the victim was forced to eat dog food, before a knife was held to his neck.

He was later stabbed in the thigh, forced into the back seat of a car and driven to a remote location.

At one point, Williams was left alone with the victim when the remainder of the group purchased supplies from a service station.

But his lawyer, and those acting for his children, told Judge Chapman each had minimal roles in the attack.

Tim Blake, for Williams, said his client felt hopeless to free the victim when they were left together and was not as culpable because he was not involved in planning the ambush.

But Judge Chapman said that suggestion “carries no weight”.

“His behaviour was disgraceful, he’s the grown-up here,” she said.

“He’s got children in front of him taking drugs and he does nothing about it. Absolutely nothing.”

Joel Horskins, for Janise Cox, asked that she be handed a suspended sentence given the time she has already spent behind bars and because she remained in a different room for much of the incident.

Janise Mai Cox believed the victim had stolen her vibrator and MP3 player. Picture: Facebook

In a victim impact statement read to the court by prosecutor Vanessa Burrows, the man said he feared he would never see his family again.

“I’ve never been so scared in all my life,” he said.

“I live with this fear constantly and especially when I go out.”

He said he still had issues with his leg – a “constant reminder” of what happened to him – and can no longer enjoy some foods.

“Things remind me of what happened, smells and places remind me of it too,” he said.

“I find it hard to eat pizza and some other meats because it reminds me of the incident.

“I hope that I never have to experience what you did to me ever again.”

Williams and his children have pleaded guilty to aggravated causing harm with intent to cause harm and false imprisonment.

Thwaites has pleaded guilty to aggravated committing theft using force, aggravated intentionally causing harm, false imprisonment and aggravated assault.

The group, who are all in custody, will be sentenced at a later date.