Gold Coast drug debt collector with knife hits wrong home

A knife-wielding man who broke into a Gold Coast home and terrorised occupants to claim money owed for a drug debt, a court has heard. But he had made a very big mistake.

Tyronne Colburn pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court.

A knife-wielding man who broke into a Gold Coast home and terrorised occupants to claim on a drug debt got the wrong house, a court has heard.

Drug addict Tyronne Colburn later realised he had stormed the “wrong house” in Broadbeach Waters, Southport District Court heard yesterday.

The 26-year-old pleaded guilty to burglary and two counts of attempted robbery.

A female occupant started screaming “he’s got a knife” – alerting her fellow residents – when she saw him standing near her bed room’s door while she was in bed

She raised the alarm inside the house at about 12.20am on September 27 last year when Colburn, who had his shirt pulled up over his mouth, said “somebody owes me some money” before holding a knife close to a male occupant’s face.

The male victim developed depression, anxiety and a sleep disorder since the attack, the court was told.

Colburn had actually intended to threaten a person who owed him a drug debt. That person allegedly lived next door to the house he entered, the court was told.

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Defence barrister Bernard Reilly said Colburn came from a “deprived” background.

“He was in and out of foster and his mum developed a drug use problem,” Mr Reilly said.

“He had one talent, as a footballer. But at 15 he (suffered a leg injury) which ended his participation.

“He became involved in drug use at 18.”

Colburn, a father, broke down in tears in the courthouse dock when details of his upbringing were being listed.

Mr Reilly said Colburn was the victims’ neighbour.

Judge Catherine Muir condemned Colburn for targeting “innocent people.”

“(The victim) is still recalling how helpless he felt at your hands that night,” Judge Muir said.

“You were totally out of your brain.”

Colburn was sentenced to four year in jail and will be eligible for parole in January next year.

He was on parole at the time of the break-in.