‘Outlaw bikies’, metal poles: ‘Bonkers’ home invasion over 4WD and sheets

A man has been jailed over a “bonkers” home invasion where “a seriously violent dude”, the “dogs of war” and possible bikies were set loose on a victim.

The court heard the home invasion was over a property dispute.

A man has been jailed over a “bonkers” home invasion where “a seriously violent dude”, the “dogs of war” and possible bikies were set loose on a victim due to a property dispute involving a car and some sheets.

Mitchell James Zak and Sarah Anne Nelson, 24, both pleaded guilty to wilful damage, burglary and wilful damage, assault occasioning bodily harm while armed and in company, assault occasioning bodily harm in company and stealing from the person.

“Mr Zak, this was fundamentally your campaign and let me just say that from the minute I read it I just thought that you must have been bonkers,” Judge Ian Dearden said during sentencing at Beenleigh District Court.

The court heard there was a property dispute between Zak’s relative and another man involving a LandCruiser and some sheets.

The victim was at home when Zak, Nelson and two other men who claimed to be “outlaw bikies” showed up on April 8 2023. The assailants, except for Nelson, were armed with metal poles, the court heard.

“You are all there to inflict whatever damage is necessary on either people or property. And, in fact, you ended up doing both,” Judge Dearden said.

“Just appallingly stupid. And very dangerous stuff. I mean, both of you are very lucky that no one copped a worse injury than they did. None of it was flash, but it could have been way, way worse.”

As the victim called police the three men smashed the front fence and entered the home and Zak hit the man, who was being held by Nelson, with a metal pole to the head, hand, face and back, the court heard.

One of the co-offenders ripped a $2500 gold chain from the victim’s neck while making explicit threats and claiming “to be a member of the Mongrel Mob.”

He and another co-offender assaulted one of the victim’s friends who was left bruised.

The victim was taken to Logan Hospital with a four-centimetre laceration on his head and long bruises down his back.

“It was a home invasion. It was unprovoked. Premeditated and persistent,” Judge Dearden said.

“And your problem, of course, is that you have got two guys, both armed with metal poles, that you really do not have a lot of control over. And they are – at least one of those sounds like a seriously – potentially seriously violent dude.

“When you set the dogs of war loose, you never know where they are going to run.”

Zak acknowledged “it definitely went wrong”.

“I know I’ve done wrong,” he said.

The court heard Zak had suffered 58 epileptic seizures in the last two and half years since breaking his back in February 2022.

Nelson, whose lawyer stressed her limited role in the offending, had previously struggled with drugs but undertaken rehabilitation to tackle the problem.

Zak was sentenced to three years jail with a parole release date of November 7 2025.

Nelson was sentenced to two years jail with immediate parole.