Dustin Robinson: Rochester truckie attacks dad in drunken rage

A teenage boy has been heralded as a hero after he saved his family from a violent truckie who broke into their home during a drunken rampage.

A teenage boy has been heralded as a hero for protecting his family when a drunken neighbour smashed into their home in the middle of the night.
Dustin Robinson, 36, appeared before Victoria County Court to plead guilty to breaking into his neighbour’s Rochester home and attacking a father-of-two in a drunken rage.

The court heard Robinson was drinking heavily at a family function on the evening of April 25, 2021, and was looking for a fight.

At midnight the drunk father-of-three woke up his stepbrother and challenged him to a fight over his father’s treatment of Robinson’s mother.

The truck driver attacked his stepbrother until his girlfriend called the police.

Next Robinson turned on his next door neighbour, Denis Caine, who he falsely believed was bashing his wife.

The Caine family, including a 14 year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl, were asleep when Robinson smashed through a glass insert in their front door and fumbled with the lock to let himself in.

Robinson called him a “wife bashing dog” and began headbutting, punching and kicking the father-of two in front of his children in his own home.

“He was fuelled by irrational drunken behaviour,” Judge Michael Bourke said.

Caine’s 14-year-old son grabbed a golf club and started swinging at the intruder as his younger sister desperately called triple-0.

Robinson, still wearing a blood stained shirt, was weeping, apologising and hugging the 14-year-old boy when police arrived.

Judge Bourke said this could be a sign of remorse, or a by-product of his alcoholic binge.

His victim was left with minor cuts and abrasions.

Judge Bourke said the family was badly frightened by the ordeal, but commended the young man who tried to protect his father.

He ordered the seized golf clubs be returned to the “brilliant and courageous young man”.

Judge Bourke said Robinson was acting irrationally when he accused his neighbour domestic violence.

He said the 36-year-old’s childhood was the “trigger” for the outburst, with allegations his stepfather abused his mother.

Judge Bourke said Robinson heard a loud argument between the couple the previous day – and with no evidence – assumed the woman was being beaten.

Judge Bourke said the father-of-three had been diagnosed with anxiety, depression and showed signed of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Robinson told the court he has not drunk alcohol since.

Judge Bourke said there were many signs of Robinson being on the path to rehabilitation, including a letter from his partner, who testified for him as an insightful, loving father and valued worker.

“I hope you don’t betray that trust,” Judge Bourke warned.

Robinson was sentenced to 24 days in prison, already served, and a three-year community corrections order.

He was ordered to 350 hours of community service and to attend alcohol, mental health and offending behaviour programs.