Joseph Kalwisha, 20, of Holland Park sentenced for attempted armed break-in at Logan house

“Why would you bring violence into this country?”: A permanent resident exposed to “extreme violence” in his former homeland tried to break into a house while armed in a group.

A 20-year-old father-of-two who tried to break into an innocent person’s house while armed and in company at night will receive court-ordered counselling to deal with past trauma suffered overseas.

Zambian-born cleaner Joseph Kalwisha of Holland Park pleaded guilty to single counts of attempted entering of a dwelling with intent by break-in and breach of bail.

Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Friday (June 17) heard Kalwisha was tracked by Polair after police received reports of four males armed with battens knocking on doors in Logan Central on July 30.

According to prosecutors, Kalwisha tried to break into a house at around 8.50pm where an unsuspecting young person stayed.

The break-in was unsuccessful only because police “were onto” the group, the court heard.

A police prosecutor said Kalwisha was on March 10 handed a prison sentence for subsequent serious offending committed in October.

Joseph Kalwisha, 20, of Holland Park was sentenced for the attempted armed break-in at a Logan house.

Defence solicitor Claudia Richardson said her client was a permanent resident who experienced “extreme violence” and hardship in his former homeland.

The court heard he suffered paranoia and anxiety as a result yet had completed his schooling.

Ms Richardson submitted that her client made no excuses for his offending for which he was “genuinely remorseful”.

A reference letter from the mother of his two children spoke of his behavioural improvement over the past six months.

Magistrate Tracy Mossop said she dreaded to think what could have occurred had the defendant and his co-offenders successfully broken into the house.

Ms Mossop urged Kalwisha to make the most of his new-found life.

“You have had a background of difficulty yet you’ve obtained certificates from school, you can work, you can be a father,” she said.

“Why someone with that background would choose to bring more difficulty into their life when they have been gifted the benefit of living in this country, which is not ravaged by war and violence, I don’t understand.

“Why would you bring violence into this country?

“Maybe you do have mental health issues and if that is the case I am going to make an order to have a special condition on your probation so that you are rehabilitated.

“Because it is important that you live your best life here, not your worst.”

Kalwisha was sentenced to 18 months’ probation with no conviction recorded.