Man assaulted during violent Ballarat home invasion as offenders tried to steal his car

A Ballarat man suffered injuries to his face after offenders punched and assaulted him with a beer bottle during a violent home invasion.

A Ballarat tradie was involved in a group attack that left a man with a facial fracture, before he took part in a scuffle with a police officer who ended up with concussion.

Apprentice bricklayer Michael Dawson, 29, will remain behind bars after being sentenced for charges including home invasion, recklessly causing injury and theft in the County Court this week.

The court heard Dawson, along with two co-accused, knocked on the front door of the victim’s Mount Helen house on December 19, 2019 while another co-accused remained in the car.

The group pushed their way in and Dawson snatched the victim’s car keys.

As Dawson strode towards a Nissan Navarra, the victim was able to grab his car keys, run back into his home and lock the door.

But this did not deter the offenders, who proceeded to break through the front door and assault the victim.

Dawson, armed with a glass beer bottle, hit and punched the victim.

One of the co-offenders, the principal assailant, used the bottle to hit the victim.

The victim, who Dawson did not know, sustained serious injuries including a facial fracture near his eye and lacerations.

The offenders stole the victim’s Nissan Navarra.

Police successfully stopped the vehicle but Dawson fled on foot, closely tailed by a police officer.

The court heard the officer tackled Dawson, who was on bail at the time, to the ground and suffered a shoulder injury, large laceration to his forehead and concussion as a result.

Judge Paul Lacava said the offending was serious as it involved Dawson and co-offenders forcing their way into a home in the middle of the night with the intent to steal.

While he noted Dawson was “by no means the ringleader” he allowed the offending to be carried out by participating in what would have been a “frightening” experience for the victim.

The co-offenders also pleaded guilty and have been sentenced.

The court heard Dawson, who has a history of assaults, property damage and burglary, had been in custody since he was arrested and had therefore endured the tougher conditions in custody as a result of the pandemic.

Dawson was sentenced to three years and three months imprisonment, with a six month non-parole period. His licence was cancelled and disqualified for two years.

His 769 days of pre-sentence detention were reckoned as time served.

Judge Lacava said Dawson’s prospects of rehabilitation were “guarded” and he required support by way of mental health treatment and drug and alcohol rehabilitation when released from custody.

If not for his guilty plea he would have received a much harsher sentence of six years in prison with a non-parole period of four and a half years.