Mason Collins and Brandon Hixon sentenced for Wandal home invasion

Two apprentices – one who is about to become a father – have been handed prison terms for their roles in a home invasion, described as “calculated violence” by “vigilantes”, where six men rocked up to assault five.

Two apprentices – one who is about to become a father – have been handed suspended prison terms for their roles in a home invasion, described as “calculated violence” by “vigilantes”, where six men turned up to assault five.

Mason John William Collins and Brandon Charles Hixon, both 20, were sentenced in Rockhampton District Court on April 28 for their roles in the violent altercation at a Wandal residence on January 22, 2022.

Collins pleaded guilty to one count of burglary in company at night, five counts of common assault, one of assault occasioning bodily harm (AOBH) in company, one AOBH in company/while armed and one of wilful damage.

Mason John William Collins, 20, was sentenced on April 28 for his role in the "gutless' home invasion, assaulting five men, at a Wandal residence on January 22, 2022.

Hixon pleaded guilty to one count each of burglary at night in company, AOBH in company and AOBH while armed/in company and five counts of common assault.

A third man accused of the home invasion entered pleas of not guilty on March 29 with a trial date yet to be set.

Crown prosecutor Cameron Keast said the victims were drinking on the veranda of one of the victims’ residence in Jackson St, Wandal, on January 22, 2022.

Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren said one of the victims made “lewd comments” to a female linked to the defendants’ group and she told her brother about the comment and a group of six men, including Collins and Hixon attended about 9.30pm and did not leave when they were told to.

“I suspect neither of you, when you entered the car in a drunken state on the night, knew that you were about to engage in a criminal activity for which life imprisonment is the maximum sentence,” Judge Horneman-Wren said.

“The violence was disgusting, inappropriate and highly offensive.

“Acting as a pack of vigilantes bore no proportionality to the insult.”

He said a victim impact statement provided by one of the occupants stated “you weren’t men that night. You weren’t tough. You were weak and foolish and have caused pain beyond disbelief”.

“I couldn’t have put it better myself,” Judge Horneman-Wren said.

Mason John William Collins (back with head covered) and Brandon Charles Hixon (front with head covered), both 20, were sentenced on April 28 in Rockhampton District Court for their roles in the violent altercation at a Wandal residence on January 22, 2022.

Mr Keast said a brawl broke out after the six men refused to leave.

During the fight, Hixon punched victim one who fell to the ground with Collins then punching the victim and causing bruising under his eye.

Hixon then pushed victim two before throwing a vodka bottle at his face, striking his cheekbone, resulting in swelling and red marks.

The third accused allegedly hit a third victim in the head and Collins then punched that victim in the head.

The third accused allegedly punched the fourth victim in the face, hitting his cheek.

Collins put a fifth victim in a headlock, restricting the man’s ability to breath, and only released his grip when he was pushed away by another victim.

Collins then spat on the fourth victim and as the group left, he twisted a mirror on a car, breaking it.

Neither Collins nor Hixon had criminal records and both were supported in court by family and partners.

Their barristers told the court the men were ‘extremely intoxicated’ at the time.

The court heard both had jobs – Collins an apprentice barber and Hixon a second-year apprentice electrician – and Collins was about to become a father for the first time.

Judge Horneman-Wren said the ripple effects of this incident went beyond the victims to their families and the families of the offenders.

He sentenced Collins and Hixon to 18-months prison wholly suspended and operational for two years.

Judge Horneman-Wren said his decision to not sentence them to actual time in custody was for the benefit of the family supporters in the back of the courtroom who sobbed out loud in relief at the sentence.