Kensington neighbour dispute led to aggravated burglary, smashed windows and blood trail
A falling-out between neighbours in Kensington has gone from bad to worse, with a disagreement spiralling out of control into a violent home invasion and bloody manhunt.
Melbourne City
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A man has been jailed for at least three years after a neighbourhood dispute in Kensington ended in a violent home invasion and bloody manhunt.
Stuart Clarke appeared at the Melbourne County Court on Wednesday pleading guilty to an aggravated burglary triggered by an escalating argument with his neighbours.
In early 2018 Clarke moved to Kensington with his disabled partner.
The court heard disagreements between the woman and a man next door quickly grew out of control in December.
On December 19 the Kensington man stormed next door about 9pm, threatening to kill his neighbours while waving an imitation hang gun he was carrying.
Clarke smashed the front windows of the house with a golf club.
He then went to the back of the house to break more windows and managed to get inside, where he found the pair cowering in a bedroom calling police.
when police arrived the 44-year-old man had fled.
The court heard the incident almost turned into a siege as police negotiated with Clarke via text while trying to find his location.
The dog squad was eventually able to track him by following a bloody trail caused by a cut sustained breaking into his neighbour’s property, and found him hiding underneath his house. The handgun was found nearby.
County Court Judge Michael Bourke said Clarke’s actions left his victims traumatised.
“(It was) an escalating neighbourhood dispute,” he said.
“I accept that you felt protective of your partner who suffers a disability and felt grievance about certain events which lead to your anger and extreme loss of control on the day of offending.
“Whether such feelings were justified is not a matter I can decide, your action and these offences were clearly and emphatically were not.
“The victim impact statements state substantial effect on (victims), there is ongoing fear and anxiety, social and community life is affected, both suffer mental health conditions aggravated by what you did.
“This offending was very serious, aggravated burglary attracts a high maximum sentence. Your victims were placed in danger and great fear in their home.”
He has been charged with aggravated burglary, threatening to kill, prohibited person in possession of an imitation firearm, criminal damage and assault which carries a maximum jail time of 25 years.
Mr Clarke has been sentenced to a minimum term of three years in jail and maximum of five years and four months.
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Contact Grace at grace.mckinnon@news.com.au