Numurkah’s Andrew Howells denied bail over Mooroopna home invasion assault charges

A trio of “masked hooligans” allegedly invaded a Mooroopna home and assaulted a man in a scenario labelled “bizarre” by a magistrate.

Three people allegedly assaulted a man during a home invasion in Mooroopna.

A trio of “masked hooligans” allegedly invaded a Mooroopna home and assaulted a man in a scenario labelled “bizarre” by a magistrate.

Andrew Howells, 24, appeared in Shepparton Magistrates'’ Court on Monday to apply for bail after he was arrested on Thursday for an alleged home invasion.

Police allege the Numurkah man, with two unknown co-accuseds, entered a Mooroopna home wearing balaclavas or bandannas to cover their face and punched a man.

A woman and child were also home, and footage allegedly filmed by a co-accused captured the woman yelling “Andrew get out” and “please get out”.

The court heard police found the footage on Mr Howells’ phone along with messages about planning on “running through” other houses, though there was no evidence of him actually committing other home invasions.

On the same day Mr Howells allegedly posted an Instagram story showing a knife in the waistband of his pants with the caption “see you soon lad”.

The alleged offending occurred on June 18 and Mr Howells was arrested by police on July 17.

Mr Howells allegedly said “because he hits her”, referring to the man and woman in the house, when asked why he was there.

Andrew Howells applied for bail in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court after an alleged home invasion. Picture: Jack Colantuono

Magistrate Simon Zebrowski said it was “bizarre” when Mr Howells had “significant and violent” priors.

He said it was “hard to imagine anything more terrifying than masked hooligans walking into your castle, start punching somebody and there’s a child there”.

The court heard the offending occurred “not long” after the completion of an 18-month community corrections order and six-months imprisonment.

“Doesn’t seem six months in jail taught him any common sense,” Mr Zebrowski said.

The reasoning for Mr Howells’ application were delay in the court proceedings, mental health challenges, availability of the Court Integrated Services Program and an ill family member.

Mr Zebrowski said it was too early to confirm if there would be a delay and there was no evidence before the court of mental health challenges.

He said it was a serious offence and Mr Howells could be looking at a “significant term of imprisonment”.

Mr Zebrowski said it was concerning Mr Howells had allegedly posted to social media, and that two co-accused remained in the community.

Bail was refused and Mr Howells is expected to return to court in October.