Daniel John Disney pleads guilty to burglary, attempted robbery with wounding

After breaking into another man’s home, an armed robber accused his son of rape before demanding the other man’s money or he would “spread proof” of the allegation.

A man who used a knife in an attack during an attempted armed robbery will be sentenced in court this week.

An armed man who stabbed an elderly man in a bizarre vigilante attack after first accusing his son of rape, then demanding money off him, has faced court.

Daniel John Disney, 28, pleaded guilty to burglary while armed and attempted armed robbery with wounding when he faced Maryborough District Court.

Crown prosecutor James Bishop said Disney knew the victim’s son and went to the man’s unit in Maryborough.

He demanded to know where the man’s son was and claimed the man’s son had raped someone, Mr Bishop said.

The victim said he didn’t know where his son was and didn’t know anything about the rape accusation.

Disney then demanded money from the man or he would spread the rape allegation, then threatened to cut him.

The victim said he didn’t have any money to give him, Mr Bishop said.

Disney then pulled out a knife and cut the victim on his arm and finger, before fleeing out the front door.

The victim suffered a jagged one centimetre deep, 10cm long wound above his left wrist that required suturing.

He identified Disney as the offender via Facebook the following day.

Disney was located by police and declined to participate in an interview before being charged and remanded in custody.

The court was told nothing was stolen, and it was not a protracted incident.

Maryborough Court House. Photo: Valerie Horton/ Fraser Coast Chronicle.

Disney had been on opioid replacement therapy, the court heard, and was working on his rehabilitation.

He had spent 13 months in custody and had substantial goals upon his release from prison, the court was told.

Judge Nathan Jarro said Disney had been three months into court-ordered parole when he committed the new offences.

He said the incident happened in the early afternoon on November 10, 2023.

Judge Jarro said it was a “gratuitous, unprovoked, violent incident upon an elderly man”.

“You entered his house uninvited. You were armed with a knife,” he said.

“You threatened him. You also assaulted him.”

He said people should feel safe in their own homes without the fear of being assaulted by “complete strangers”.

But Judge Jarro said Disney had the opportunity to turn his life around.

He said Disney had a dysfunctional upbringing and the instability stemmed from his father being addicted to drugs.

Disney had worked intermittently but that work had dropped off because of his own drug use, Judge Jarro said.

But Disney was now working towards rehabilitating and being a positive role model for his three children.

Disney was given a head sentence of four and a half years in prison. He will be eligible for parole on May 8, 2025.

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