Shane Edwin Aughey pleaded guilty to burglary and assault over a violent home invasion west of Mackay
A couple had been sleeping when a former friend got into their home and unleashed a violent assault.
Police & Courts
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A woman has stood up in court and forgiven the man who brutally bashed her partner in a shocking home invasion west of Mackay.
Carolyn Thomsen said she had been “eaten up with hate” since she was snapped awake on June 30, 2020 to her partner James Langley screaming “help me, help me” as he was repeatedly punched by a family friend.
Unbeknown to her Shane Edwin Aughey had crept into the Victoria Plains home, disguised in a balaclava, and unleashed a relentless wave of violence on the 53 year old.
“It’s affected all of us really badly,” Ms Thomsen, also known as Tracy, said after watching Aughey jailed for two-and-a-half years for burglary and assault occasioning bodily harm.
“We’ve got now security cameras, lights, a boom gate … for fear that he will come back.
“Imagine waking up to someone smashing your head in.
“It’s something that doesn’t go away.”
Mackay District Court heard there had previously been a strong friendship between Aughey and the couple – the 39 year old had lived at their property in 2018 and 2019.
But Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald said there was a falling out. Aughey had believed the couple had stolen some of his belongings.
Ms Thomsen, who spoke to media on Tuesday after the case was finalised, said they had not taken the items, adding they had possessions stolen at the same time.
Some weeks before the attack, Aughey had bumped into the pair at a pub, sparking a verbal back and forth. He even told them to “watch their back” and threatened to bash Mr Langley.
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Ms Thomsen said at the time they didn’t think anything of the thinly veiled threat.
“We talked about it but no, we just sort of … you get lax don’t you,” she said.
It was the last thing on their mind on June 30 when, after enjoying a pleasant evening with family, everyone went to bed early.
Mr Langley was asleep in his bed when Aughey gained entry to the home with a juvenile in tow, both had their faces covered.
Ms Friedewald said the two walked into the bedroom where Mr Langley was asleep, turned on the light and Aughey began punching him in the face as the teen held the door closed.
Ms Thomsen, who was in another room, woke to her partner screaming “help me”, ran down the hall and, with her son, tried to force their way into the room.
The court heard when they finally pushed the door open Ms Thomsen recognised Aughey as Mr Langley had pulled the face covering down.
When Aughey left with the juvenile he told the family not to call the police.
Mr Langley was taken to hospital and later checks revealed he had a number of minimal fractures to his nasal area.
Ms Thomsen said when she heard her partner screaming “there was no feeling, there’s not thought, just action”.
“It wasn’t until later when we thought, they could have had … a weapon,” she said.
About Aughey
During Aughey’s sentencing hearing on Tuesday the court heard about his extensive criminal history that spanned a number of states and included acts of violence against girlfriends, family and strangers that Ms Friedewald said “demonstrates a propensity to violence”.
The court heard he had also been on probation when he committed the home invasion.
Defence barrister Scott McLennan, instructed by Legal Aid Queensland, spoke about his client’s unfortunate upbringing that included a violently alcoholic father and a mother who also succumbed to booze.
The court heard as a child he spent much of his after school hours in public bars while his mother was drinking.
Mr McLennan said Aughey struggled with alcoholism as an adult and amphetamine use since 2010 – his offending was attributed to his addiction.
The court heard he had been drinking the night of the offence when he came up with “a plot for some revenge” following the altercation at the bar weeks earlier where it is alleged the couple called Aughey a “junkie”.
“He’s ashamed about that,” Mr McLennan said.
The court heard Aughey, who appeared via videolink, was also “ashamed” about involving the juvenile.
Mr McLennan said Aughey had a good work history and a coveted skill set as an operator and crane driver and had always been able to find work between his stints in jail.
He had been attending Alcoholics Anonymous and had been in custody on remand for 303 days.
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‘I’m sorry’
When Judge Ian Dearden asked Aughey if he had anything to say, he told the court, “I apologise and yeah I’m very sorry.”
After hearing these words Ms Thomsen, who had been sitting in the courtroom gallery, spoke up and said, “I accept his apology.”
She later said she had been shocked by his apology, but it had “made it a lot easier”.
“As soon as he said that … he was a friend, and at that moment I saw that person that I knew years ago,” she said, adding she did not think her partner would ever forgive Aughey, but she could.
“People are worth second chances and third chances.
“I’m seeing a counsellor … because I’ve been eaten up with hate so much.”
Ms Thomsen said Mr Langley also planned to see a counsellor now the case was finalised.
“I couldn’t wait that long, I was going round the twist I was eating, breathing Aughey,” she said.
“After everything … was said by the prosecutor and his lawyer and the judge, then I could see there was a change in his face.
“So whatever was said must have hit home with him and what he’s done.
“He’s probably never sat down and read what he’s done.
“And if all that’s thrown in your face, it’s like wholly crap I’m 39 years old and I’m a loser.”
Penalty
Judge Dearden said it was a credit to Aughey that Ms Thomsen had accepted his apology.
“What you did was an appalling way to treat anyone else,” Judge Dearden said.
The court heard it was a serious aggravating feature that both Aughey and his juvenile companion were disguised.
Judge Dearden said it was clear Aughey’s offending was related to alcohol.
“You’re approaching 40 … you’re already starting to get to be one of the older blokes in prison,” Judge Dearden said, adding Aughey had a skill set to get work, but he needed “to stay off the grog and … the drugs”.
Judge Dearden agreed with Mr McLennan on the penalty and jailed Aughey for 2.5 years with immediate parole. The 303 days already on remand was declared time served.
However the court heard he would not be released yet as he still had matters to finalise in the magistrates court.
A conviction was recorded.
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