Josiah Lea sentenced in court after violent Southport home invasion

A Gold Coast man was wielding what appeared to be a gun when he broke down the door of a young woman’s home in an attempt to recover a debt.

A Gold Coast woman was heard screaming in terror as a young man broke down her door in a violent attempt to recover a debt.

Josiah Lea led a group of men to the door of the 24-year-old woman’s Southport home late on October 15, 2021.

Footage from a security camera at the woman’s front door was played to the Southport District Court on Monday, showing Lea repeatedly knocking on the woman’s door until she answered.

Lea, 19, asked several times whether a person called ‘Chook’ was present and requested to go inside and check for himself when he was told no.

“Can you guys please leave … I’ve told you, you guys are scaring me … it’s just me, please leave me alone,” the victim can be heard telling Lea and his three alleged co-offenders.

The group were seen leaving the property, returning only minutes later with masks covering their faces.

Lea and one of the co-accused were holding what appeared to be guns.

The video showed Lea breaking down the door and running into the home, with the woman inside heard screaming until Lea told her to “shut up”.

Prosecutor Amelia Baker-Smith said the group was inside for several minutes before making off with jewellery and handbags belonging to the victim.

She said Lea was arrested several days after the break-in and was taken to the watch house, where he told an undercover police officer he had been hired to help recover $60,000 believed to have been stolen from a friend.

“(Lea) told him he was paid $2000, but he would have received a bigger cut if the $60,000 was recovered,” Ms Baker-Smith said.

“He said it wasn’t worth the $2000.”

The court was told only one of Lea’s alleged co-offenders had been identified, and his matter remained before the courts.

Ms Baker-Smith said the victim had not confirmed what happened while Lea was inside her home, meaning the case largely relied on the camera footage and his own admissions.

Lea spent six months in custody before being granted bail, and was on bail for an unrelated and less serious burglary at the time.

He was supported by his mother and partner in court.

Defence barrister Adrian Braithwaite said his client was armed with a gel-blaster, rather than an actual gun, but acknowledged it would have made little difference to his victim at the time.

He said Lea was not connected to the alleged $60,000 theft.

“It would be unsurprising to hear that he was heavily using drugs at the time of this,” Mr Braithwaite said.

“It is clearly a deeply concerning episode of offending … it no doubt would have been extraordinarily scary and frightening for the young lady involved.”

Mr Braithwaite said Lea had secured full-time work as a concreter and stopped almost all drug use since the offending.

“He appreciates the path upon which he started walking as a young man is one which would consistently lead him into court and back into custody,” he said.

Judge Jodie Wooldridge said she would take Lea’s rehabilitation into account, but thought such violence for the sake of “easy money” required further time in custody.

Lea pleaded guilty to one count each of stealing and burglary by break-in while armed and in company.

He was sentenced to two years and nine months’ jail, with parole release on April 23.

Originally published as Josiah Lea sentenced in court after violent Southport home invasion