Brendan Wayne Clayton: Man, 29, sentenced after Helensvale family’s home invasion horror
A 29-year-old man who broke into a home repeatedly, beat up a man in front of his daughter, pointed a gun and stole a Maserati has been locked up. Read the details.
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A Logan man who “terrorised” a Helensvale family by threatening occupants with a gun in horror home invasion - including returning twice and stealing a luxury car - has been jailed.
Brendan Wayne Clayton, 29, appearing in Southport District Court on Thursday, pleaded guilty to entering a dwelling with intent to break/use/threaten violence in company, two counts of damage property, and unlawful possession of a weapon in circumstances of aggravation.
Clayton, on parole at the time, was also convicted for dangerous operation of vehicle.
The court heard in the early hours of April 4, 2023, the Helensvale family’s father saw Clayton inside his home holding a handbag with keys to the family cars.
The father told Clayton to get out, and wrestled him to the ground.
Clayton punched and kicked the man, pulled a knife from his pocket and said “get away or I’ll kill you” before fleeing the house, leaving his shoe and keys to the family Porsche.
The man’s daughter witnessed the assault.
It didn’t end there.
The father, when soon after seeing Clayton, an unidentified male and a teen girl outside the home, tried keep the front door close as the trio tried to gain access.
Clayton stuck a Remington rifle through the door, demanding his shoe and the Porsche keys, the court heard. The family threw the shoe and the trio left, leaving the family to run outside yelling for help.
Soon after the offenders returned and smashed their way in via a garage roller door, a court heard, before Clayton drove off in a $75,000 Maserati, ramming past the garage wall and family Porsche, leaving $7000 in damage.
The father suffered cuts to his hands and marks to his back, along with $1500 worth of property stolen.
Clayton was arrested in Drewvale after driving the Maserati on the wrong side of the road, through two red lights, and at 160 km/h on tyres deflated by police. The gun used in the break-in was found in the car and Maserati was written off.
Crown prosecutor Ryder Reid told the court Clayton had “terrorized a family at night in their own home” and had little hope of rehabilitation.
Defence barrister James Wallis said Clayton had been using meth heavily at the time and was extremely remorseful.
His client had been in custody for just shy of two years since his arrest.
Mr Wallis said while the gun was terrifying, there was no ammunition.
Judge Katarina Prskalo KC accepted he was remorseful, adding “fortunately no one was seriously physically injured - although that says nothing about the psychological impact upon the victims and the sheer extent of the property damage.”
She sentenced Clayton to six years jail eligible for parole on April 4, 2025.
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Originally published as Brendan Wayne Clayton: Man, 29, sentenced after Helensvale family’s home invasion horror
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