Bevan Yates: Merbein man’s horror assault in Avocado St, Mildura home

A man looking for “choof” has kicked down the door of a frail Mildura resident and started throwing punches.

The door of a Mildura home was kicked down before an assault of a “frail” man, a court has heard.

A Mildura man has been left significantly more frail after being bashed by a thug, “chasing some choof”.

Merbein man Bevan Yates, 34, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and common assault at the Melbourne County Court on Friday, April 31.

Prosecutor Michael Roper told the court Yates and a co-accused, Merbein man Ostynn Sutherland, 25, entered an Avocado St property in Mildura on August 31.

The court heard the victim lived alone and knew Sutherland through a mutual acquaintance.

Mr Roper said the victim assumed a friend was at the front door when he told the pair to come inside.

But the victim realised he didn’t recognise the men as they started to enter the house and went back outside again.

The victim also went outside to collect his dog, which had run out.

The court heard the victim retreated back inside after Yates and Sutherland took offence at something the victim said,

Mr Roper said Yates then kicked the front door off its hinges before punching the victim “two or three times”.

The victim activated an alarm on his phone that alerted police and the co-accused pair fled.

Sutherland previously pleaded guilty to trespass at Mildura Magistrates’ Court in November.

After being arrested by police, Yates said he had money and was “chasing some choof” — meaning marijuana.

Yates told police he had left his money inside the house so he “pushed” the door down.

But the victim’s impact statement read to the court revealed how the man’s back and neck problems had become “ten times” worse since the incident.

The court heard the victim’s pain had increased “considerably”, he had been referred to a neurosurgeon and needed a full-time carer because of loss of mobility.

Judge David Sexton said a frail individual had become significantly more frail.

Judge Sexton said he accepted Yates had significant cognitive difficulties, including having an IQ of 55, but he also had two prior matters of concern.

The court was told Yates was exposed to alcohol at a very young age and had a longstanding drug problem.

Judge Sexton told Yates’ counsel that his client, who had already spent days in custody, should not be under any illusion of being released soon.

“Your client’s criminal history is problematic, the need for community protection is problematic,” Judge Sexton said.

The matter was adjourned so assessments could take place and was listed for further plea on August 2.

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