Payten James Greenaway: Sleeping Mildura family woken by Wodonga thief

A “scared and terrified” Mildura family still have trouble sleeping after waking to find a pair of thieves in their home.

Payten James Greenaway faced Mildura Magistrates’ Court this week.

A Wodonga man woke a sleeping family while stealing a wallet and watch from their Mildura home.

Payten James Greenaway, 26, and de facto partner Jade Patrice Taylor appeared before Mildura Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Greenaway pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, theft and committing an indictable offence while on bail, while Taylor pleaded guilty to trespassing.

The court heard the pair, who have two children together, had been staying in Mildura since early last year to care for Greenaway’s mother.

Police said on September 9, the pair entered the rear yard a Walnut Ave property while a couple and an infant were sleeping.

Greenaway entered the building through a sliding door before stealing a wallet with $600 cash, bank cards and a drivers licence, as well as a Casio watch worth $500.

At about 7.20am, the sleeping couple were woken by Greenaway’s movements.

They opened their bedroom door and screamed when they saw Greenaway.

One of the victims then chased Greenaway and Taylor while holding a pole that was being used to paint the house.

After initially running, Greenaway and Taylor confronted the victim, saying they were only looking for cigarettes.

CCTV cameras captured the pair on Walnut Ave and they were later arrested.

Greenaway’s lawyer said his client had a “significant intellectual disability” and a psychological report from when Greenaway was 11 was presented to the court.

The lawyer said Greenaway and Taylor previously moved away from Mildura to escape poor influences and wanted to return to Wodonga, where they still held a residence.

The lawyer asked the court to consider a justice plan for Greenaway or to adjourn the matter for a more up-to-date assessment to be made.

Magistrate Michael Coghlan said Greenaway’s guilty plea came “at the very last moment”.

Mr Coghlan said the victims were “scared and terrified” by Greenaway’s offending and now had trouble sleeping.

Security cameras and doors have been installed at the house.

“I think people have the right to view their own home as somewhere that should be safe and free from people entering,” Mr Coghlan said.

Taylor was fined $500 without conviction.

Greenaway was sentenced to three months in prison and a community corrections order, to commence after his release, with assessment, testing and treatment conditions.

Greenaway on Tuesday was granted appeal bail, which included a condition to remain at a Mildura address.

He will be required to attend the Mildura County Court on March 9.