Illawarra tradie Ryan Keegan sentenced for Boxing Day home invasion

A young Coniston man who “gets drunk and does dumb s--t” could be behind bars for more than four years following a shocking Boxing Day break-in.

Illawarra tradie Ryan Keegan learnt his fate on Monday. Picture: Facebook

An Illawarra tradie who a court heard had the propensity to “get drunk and do dumb shit” has been jailed for a violent home invasion on Boxing Day last year.

Ryan Keegan, 23, was sentenced to four years and six months in jail during an appearance at Wollongong District Court on Monday.

Court documents stated a balaclava-wearing Keegan and a co-offender broke into a house on Grandview Pd, Lake Heights, about 8pm on December 26, 2021.

The male occupant of the house was on his computer when he realised the two men were standing over a female friend who was woken while sleeping on the lounge.

The man yelled “what are you doing here?” with the co-offender demanding ”we want the car keys, where are the car keys?”.

Court documents state the wannabe robbers approached the man, throwing punches that struck his chest, head and face before later re-entering his home where the co-offender was wielding a knife.

Ryan Keegan was wearing a balaclava when he broke into the house. Picture: Facebook

The court heard the victim grabbed the knife by the blade, causing a serious wound, before a brave neighbour tried to assist.

The neighbour attempted to push the offenders away, however, the man suffered a broken nose after one of the men landed a punch to his face.

Ryan Keegan was sentenced in Wollongong District Court on Monday.

The pair then fled the scene.

The victim sustained cuts to his face, shin and stomach as well as a deep laceration to his index finger which required surgery.

In court on Monday, Judge Andrew Haesler hailed the efforts of the “good Samaritan” neighbour and said he was ”thankful” the victim ”only suffered a scar”.

The court heard Keegan has a “lengthy criminal history” including being jailed for a ”similar offence” in 2018 with the roofer making an admission to a psychologist that he has a habit of ”getting drunk and doing dumb s--t”.

He was sentenced on charges of aggravated break, enter and commit serious indictable offence (reckless wounding) and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company.

Keegan’s sentence has a non-parole period of two years and six months meaning with time already served he could be eligible for release in June, 2024.