Luke Steven: Debt-chasing ‘vigilante’ in terrifying home invasion

A man has faced court for his role in a violent Surfers Paradise home invasion, in which two victims were told – “Pay your debts and this stuff doesn’t happen”.

Luke Steven (centre).

A Gold Coast man has claimed he was trying to recover a longstanding debt when he and two people carried out a terrifying – and slightly bizarre – home invasion.

Luke Peter Henry Steven and two accomplices completely removed a rear sliding door to enter a Surfers Paradise home about 1am on July 21 last year.

Southport Magistrates Court was told the group demanded money from their victims once inside.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Ian Adams said Steven’s male co-offender assaulted both victims and told them, “I’ll stab you in the neck – pay your debts and this stuff doesn’t happen”.

It was heard the group fled after grabbing a computer tower belonging to one of the victims.

Snr Const. Adams said CCTV footage near the time of the burglary captured Steven saying, “Yeah we are going there – we’re going there now to kick it in”.

Steven and his male co-accused were soon identified. Police found a small amount of marijuana and drug utensils when they searched Steven’s home.

The court was told Steven’s co-accused was earlier this year sentenced to nine months' jail with immediate parole. The woman was never identified or charged.

Luke Steven (centre) leaving the Southport courthouse with his defence lawyer and his father.

Steven had recently ended a “toxic” relationship and was chasing a debt owed to him for about 18 months when he broke into the victim’s home, the court was told.

It was heard the 28-year-old had since completed an anger management course and sessions with a psychologist, and was employed in the IT field.

Magistrate Sarah Thompson said Steven’s minor criminal history and strong references showed this kind of “vigilante” behaviour was out of character.

“No doubt, Mr Steven, you look back and have realised that no debt is worth finding yourself in the position that you have now found yourself in,” Ms Thompson said.

“It will be of no surprise to you that the court takes this kind of behaviour exceptionally seriously, and you are lucky that nothing more serious happened when you were at that address.”

Steven pleaded guilty to entering premises to commit an offence, possessing dangerous drugs, possessing drug utensils, and possessing an item used in the commission of a drug offence.

He was sentenced to six months’ jail with immediate parole.