Teen released on bail after alleged machete break-in attempt at Mangerton
An Illawarra teen as been released to bail after police allege he tried to break into a Mangerton home while armed with a machete over the weekend, leaving his alleged victim with a wound to his head.
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A Figtree teen has been released from custody and ordered into house arrest after he was accused of trying to break into a home while armed with a machete over the weekend.
Luke Black, 19, was arrested on Saturday, after police allege he tried to force his way into a Mangerton home on Friday night, allegedly cutting a 53-year-old man’s head open with a machete.
Black faced Wollongong Local Court on Monday charged with one count of assault with intent to rob while in company and cause wounding, with his lawyer telling the court his client’s alleged offending was “very out of character”, and had shocked his family.
“He comes from a very good family,” he said. “He has very strong family support and considering his age and lack of offending he has the capacity to change his life”.
Black’s mother sobbed as she watched the court proceedings, and offered up a $10,000 surety to have her son released on bail.
Magistrate Jillian Kiely agreed to release him despite the “very serious nature” of the charge, ordering he stay under house arrest and report to police daily.
In documents tendered to the court, police allege the teen, armed with a machete, and two other unknown men, armed with metal polls, tried to storm a Johansen Crescent apartment around 9.30pm on Friday evening.
Police allege Black knew the man who lived in the apartment, and tried to force his way in with the two men after banging on the front door.
The man tried to stop the trio from entering the apartment as Black allegedly began demanding money from him.
As the man continued to try and close the front door, it’s alleged in the documents that he suffered a wound to the centre of his head, causing significant bleeding.
The man, and a woman who was inside the apartment, then started chasing Black and his associates down the stairs, before the trio jumped in a vehicle and sped off.
Emergency services were called and the man was taken to Wollongong Hospital for treatment to the wound on his head.
It’s alleged that in an interview with police, the alleged victim told officers Black had caused the injury with the machete.
Some hours later, police spotted the car Black allegedly fled in on Crown Street, Wollongong. Police stopped the vehicle and identified Black as the driver, placing him under arrest.
Back at the police station, Black consented to an interview with police, where it’s alleged he denied knowing, or wounding the man.
In court on Monday, his lawyer told Magistrate Kiely Black denied being present in Mangerton that evening and that he was with his girlfriend at the time.
“The allegations don’t fit in with his life in any way,” he said.
Magistrate Kiely noted that if he were found guilty of the offence it was possible Black could escape a full time jail sentence, given his age and lack of criminal history.
In granting the 19-year-old bail Magistrate Kiely also ordered Black stay away from Mangerton.
The matter will return to court next month.