Sharnae Lewis sentenced for aggravated burglary in which Ballarat teen was stabbed

The woman entered a Ballarat Central home with associates who meant to steal from the premises, only for a teen to end up stabbed.

A woman has been sentenced for her part in an aggravated burglary during which an 18-year-old was stabbed in his grandmother’s home.

Sharnae Lewis appeared in Ballarat County Court on Wednesday having pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary.

The court heard that on the evening of July 31, 2020, Lewis, 19 years old at the time, was asked by a man she knew for a lift home from Alfredton to his grandma’s house in Ballarat Central.

Lewis agreed, some discussion being had about payment for the ride home being made in methamphetamine.

Lewis and a male associate picked the man up and went to a gathering at a Sebastopol home.

The man who had asked Lewis for a lift also went inside and after a dispute erupted, he was punched and kicked by other partygoers and was left with a fractured nose and eye socket.

Lewis was not charged with any crime linked specifically to that dispute, but was present and aware of what happened.

The man’s aggressors and Lewis took the victim to his grandma’s home in order to steal from him.

Lewis, who had been to the man’s house previously, had keys to the home and used them to open the front door.

Lewis was heard telling the man’s partner, who was woken up by the intrusion, to “just do what they want”.

“You’ll be okay if you do what they want,” she said.

After Lewis’ associate stabbed the victim, Lewis fled, handing herself in to the Ballarat Police Station in late August.

Judge Carolene Gwynn said the incident was a reminder of “what can go horribly wrong, particularly in the lifestyle that you were then keeping”.

“This is obviously serious offending,” she said.

“You entered a private home in company with the intention to steal and in the early hours of the morning.

“Whilst you do not bear responsibility for the assault which took place … you were well aware he had been assaulted by the time you and others took him back to his premises and the aggravated burglary took place.”

Lewis was sentenced to a two-year community corrections order and 26 days’ imprisonment already served.