Bega taxi driver Joel Janiuk escapes jailtime after frightening home invasion

A taxi driver suffering from schizophrenia dropped a female customer home before later breaking into her property armed with an axe. Once inside, he played an instrument and modelled the victim in a baseball cap.

Joel Janiuk was sentenced at Bega District Court.

A cab driver who shared tea and conspiracy theories with a female customer returned to her home only hours later, donning a masquerade mask and breaking into the property armed with an axe, a south coast court has learned.

Father-of-two Joel Janiuk, 30, of Bega Valley pleaded guilty at Bega District Court to aggravated break and enter and common assault after forcing his way into the customer’s home on September 1, 2021, shortly after being asked to drop the woman off at the property.

“About 3am, Janiuk returned to the home,” agreed police facts reveal.

“He parked his car in the driveway, leaving the headlights on and the dashcam recording.

“Wearing a blue and silver chequered masquerade mask, Janiuk banged on the door with an axe and said he was looking for the woman.”

At the time, the woman was asleep on a couch inside the home.

The owner of the house, a man in his 60s who uses a walking frame and stick, was woken by the commotion.

“The homeowner told Janiuk the woman was not there, and that he ‘wouldn’t let him in anyway’,” police facts reveal.

“Janiuk was told to leave, and that the police would be called.

“Rather than leave, Janiuk smashed the bathroom window with the axe and attempted to climb through the broken window.”

Failing to get inside, Janiuk again tried the front door and was able to push past the elderly homeowner.

“The man fell backwards and Janiuk struck him with a wooden stick,” police documents state.

“Janiuk began yelling and ran through the house saying things which were irrational.

“He grabbed the woman’s phone, before making irrational comments.

“At one point, he grabbed a mandolin and began playing it and put a baseball cap on the woman’s head.”

Soon after, police were called to the home but were unable to locate Janiuk.

Following a large-scale search, he was found five days later in bushland some distance from Bega.

Bega District Court

From there, he was taken to Southeast Regional Hospital in Bega where he underwent psychiatric treatment.

The homeowner was left with bruising to his hands and knuckles

Soon after his arrest, Janiuk was summoned to Bega Local Court where he was granted strict conditional bail.

But, faced with further psychological pressure from the proceedings, Janiuk ceased his treatment.

In October 2022, he was found naked in the street and in breach of his bail.

He was placed into custody at south coast Correctional Centre in Nowra where he underwent further treatment.

Appearing at Bega District Court on Wednesday, Janiuk said he had benefited greatly from the psychological treatment had gained insight into the effects of the attack.

“I’m aware my actions affected the victims and their the families,” he said.

“Its psychological damage to them that cannot be taken back.

“I’m a son, and a brother, and a father. I know I need to do better.”

Janiuk told the court he had been using drugs – namely ice, or meth – at the time of the attack.

In 2019, Janiuk said he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, but had ceased psychiatric therapy.

Following his incarceration, he said he was put on a regular medication plan and was no longer a danger to the community.

While conceding Janiuk had suffered “significant delusional thoughts”, Judge Heasler agreed Janiuk’s state had improved.

“Janiuk is an intelligent man with much to contribute,” he said.

“I do not know if the victims will accept his apology, but I hope they understand that if medicated and compliant Janiuk has considerable insight and capacity to reflect on his offending behaviour and what caused him to do what he did.

Judge Heasler ruled his mental illness linked to the offending.

As such, he said Janiuk would benefit for the ability to undergo treatment in the community.

“If he were locked up in a jail, it would seriously impede his recovery,” Judge Heasler said.

“But, people with an underlying mental illness have to understand that if they offend as they have in the past and do not comply with conditions placed upon them, particularly taking medication, courts will reach a stage where they have only one option.

“That option is removing the person from the community for a period, because ultimately sentences are all about community protection.”

Janiuk was sentenced to two years and one month in jail, to be served by way of an intensive corrections order.