The Entrance: Scott Burrell, 38, refused bail over two alleged home invasions

A man who allegedly “rolled” victims for drugs in separate home invasions, just two days apart, has been refused bail despite an impassioned plea that he’s changed his ways.

Scott Burrell, 38, of Wyong, remains in custody after being refused bail over two alleged home invasions. (File image)

A man who allegedly orchestrated two violent home invasions, in which victims were “rolled” for their drugs, will remain behind bars after a magistrate rejected his bid for release.

Scott Burrell, 38, of Wyong, faced Wyong Local Court on Tuesday, charged with two counts of special aggravated breaking and entering and one of aggravated breaking and entering.

Charge sheets tendered to court allege Burrell forced his way into a Wyong unit about 7pm on September 20 last year before assaulting one occupant and stealing from another.

The charge sheets allege that two days later, on September 22, Burrell was in the company of two other men and a woman when they allegedly broke into a house at The Entrance.

The court heard Burrell was allegedly armed with an offensive weapon at the time and that one of his co-accused was said to have struck a male occupant of the house across the forehead, inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Burrell and his co-accused allegedly forced their way into the property at The Entrance. (File image)

Burrell’s Legal Aid solicitor, Lucyn Manookian, applied for bail, telling the court her client’s circumstances had changed since his arrest given he had been accepted into a full-time residential rehabilitation program at The Glenn and had documented evidence of underlying mental health issues in the form of a report, which was not available at his previous release application.

Ms Manookian told the court Burrell was in protective custody in jail, where he couldn’t receive adequate mental health treatment.

The court heard Burrell allegedly “rolled” his victims for drugs. (File photo)

She said there was little evidence linking him to the first home invasion and, in relation to the second, he had told police he was only there to purchase drugs when others burst in.

However, a police prosecutor opposed bail, saying Burrell had a “history of violence” and a criminal record “littered with non-compliance” with court orders.

“He turns up to people’s houses in company and inflicts serious assaults on people,” the prosecutor told the court.

He said DNA samples were taken at the first home invasion, which could potentially return a match for Burrell once they had been analysed and, in the other, the 38-year-old was recognised by one of the victims, who had known him for a long time.

Burrell faced Wyong Local Court on Tuesday, where he was refused bail. (File image)

The prosecutor said the matter would almost certainly be finalised in the District Court, where Burrell would inevitably receive a jail sentence.

Burrell addressed the court via video link and said he was ready to turn his life around because he had recently lost his grandmother and now had the support of his parents.

“I really know I can do it this time,” he said.

“I’m ready to do this, I’ve never reached out for help but I’m really reaching out now.”

Magistrate Trevor Khan said Burrell had served previous terms of imprisonment for similar offending.

“Both of them are serious allegations of breaking, entering and committing a serious indictable offence in aggravation,” he said.

“(The allegations involve) three or more persons breaking in while armed and essentially ‘rolling’ the occupants thereof.

“Mr Burrell’s explanation was he was there to buy drugs. But nevertheless it’s a serious set of facts.”

Mr Khan said while he believed Burrell had a desire to reform, he could not be satisfied, based on the 38-year-old’s criminal history, he would abide by bail conditions.

Burrell was therefore remanded in custody to face court again on January 21.