Cameron Dingey jailed over assault on man in home invasion

A Morwell father beat a man with a spirit level during a terrifying armed home invasion in order to steal items to fuel his drug addiction.

Cameron Dingey was jailed over assault on man in home invasion.

A Morwell father who assaulted a man with a spirit level in order to steal items to fuel his drug addiction has been jailed for more than three years.

Cameron Dingey, 33, pleaded guilty in the County Court on December 15 to one charge of a home invasion and assault with a firearm, one charge of intentionally causing injury and two charges of theft.

The court heard Dingey entered the victim’s home on June 15, 2020.

Dingey was wearing a bandana covering his face and had a yellow spirit level and firearm in his possession.

Dingey hit the victim in face with the spirit level and the victim dropped to the ground.

Dingey continued to hit him four times with the spirit level and the victim started to bleed.

Dingey said “stay down” and “I didn’t rob your place but now I’m gonna f**king rob you”.

He told the victim not to look at him and demanded his phone and bank cards.

After the assault, Dingey said to the victim “I’ve got a gun, I’ll f**king shoot you”.

He put the pistol to the back of the victim’s head, touching him just behind his right ear.

Dingey then proceeded to ransack the victim’s house and garage.

He lef with the victim’s wallet, phone, cannabis and car.

The victim suffered a left forearm fracture, right hand fracture, abrasions to the left cheek and forehead and multiple scalp lacerations.

In courts documents released to The Bass Coast News, the father of three had known the victim for over 10 years and was residing at the victim’s house for six weeks until he was accused of stealing the victims marijuana plants and got kicked out.

After this Dingey turned to drugs and returned to the property in order to get his belongings and take items to sell in order to “fuel his drug addiction”.

Dingey’s lawyer William Blake said he was a good candidate for rehabilitation.

Judge Michael McInerney said Dingey’s actions were “truly appalling” and it’s on him “to handle his mental issues and drugs”.

“If you allow yourself to be the victim of methamphetamine again, I have no doubt you will be back before this court.

Dingey was sentenced to three years and seven months imprisonment with a non-parole period two years and three months.

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