Ryan Dunster: Man sentenced over Nowra home invasion using meat cleaver

The details of a drunk man’s south coast home invasion have been revealed after he waved a meat cleaver at the victim’s face moments before bashing him.

Ryan Dunster waved a meat cleaver in the victim’s face. Picture: Generic, file.

A drunk home invader demanded his victim drop to his knees, apologise and kiss his feet, while holding a meat cleaver just moments before bashing him to the ground.

The brutal details of Ryan Dunster’s invasion of a Nowra home were heard in the Nowra District Court on Wednesday when the 25-year-old man was sentenced.

Dunster previously pleaded guilty to aggravated break and enter and stalking and intimidation, after he broke into his friend’s home on the evening of April 22, 2022.

The court heard Dunster and his friend had been out drinking at the Postman’s Tavern on Junction St, where the 25-year-old slowly became more “belligerent”.

The friend left early and, hours later, Dunster kicked his door in and demanded an apology.

Ryan Dunster was sentenced in the Nowra District Court on Wednesday. Picture: Dylan Arvela

“[Dunster] was slurring his words and was clearly intoxicated,” agreed facts state.

The court heard Dunster demanded his friend “drop to your knees, say sorry and kiss my feet”.

Dunster then forced the victim into the kitchen, where he began taking various knives out of a drawer and pushing them into his face, albeit, without contact.

The court heard Dunster took a meat cleaver out of the drawer and waved it in the victim’s face.

“I’ll cut you up,” he said, according to the agreed facts.

Dunster shouted “you f--king dog”, before he started punching him in the head.

The victim fell to the ground, where Dunster continued punching him before eventually leaving.

Police visited Dunster’s home the next morning, where they found him sleeping on his couch “clearly hungover”.

He was arrested, charged and placed in custody, before he was released on bail after spending several months behind bars.

In court, Dunster’s defence barrister, Scott Fraser, asked the court to impose a sentence served in the community over full time custody, given his client’s young age, criminal record and time already served.

Mr Fraser also asked the court to consider his client’s initiative to check himself into alcohol rehabilitation when he was released on bail.

Judge Christopher O’Brien said it was clear Dunster was trying to make the right choices and was showing genuine remorse for his actions.

Dunster was convicted and sentenced to a one year and 10 month intensive corrections order, taking into account time served.

The 25-year-old was also ordered to complete 200 hours of community service and continue alcohol rehabilitation.

Got a news tip? Email us at [e-mail]

Originally published as Ryan Dunster: Man sentenced over Nowra home invasion using meat cleaver