Robert Glowacki bail application in Melbourne County Court

A romance has blossomed for a Shepparton man charged over a Mitcham home invasion, with his new missus offering him a place to live if he gets bail.

Robert Glowacki appeared at the Melbourne County Court via an audio visual link to support his bail application on September 25, 2023.

A prison romance has been laid bare in court during a bail application for a Shepparton man who has attempted to be released to live with a woman he began dating from behind bars.

Robert Glowacki, a 33-year-old aspiring labourer, faced the second day of his bail application hearing on Monday.

He has been charged with a 2019 home invasion at Mitcham and is expected to face trial next year.

Police have alleged Glowacki was one of three men who, on November 28, entered a house with the intention of stealing from the property.

All three men were allegedly armed and committed the home invasion while a man and woman were home at the time.

Glowacki has applied to be released on bail in lead up to his trial to live with his new girlfriend at Cockatoo and take up a casual employment opportunity fitting window shutters and working as a labourer on construction sites.

The court was told that Glowacki had been friends with the woman for a long time, but the romance had only started when he had been behind bars.

“I have seen a big change in him in custody this time around,” the woman said from the witness stand.

“He has his family’s support.

“He has my support.

“I have had many conversations with him while he has been in custody.”

However, when asked if she knew about his criminal history, the woman said she did not want to know about it.

“I don’t like hearing details about his past because we are trying to move forward,” she said.

Judge Patricia Riddell asked the woman if she had been at his previous court appearances.

“What did you know about the offences where he has been put in custody?’’ he said.

“Do you know what he went to jail for in the past?”

The woman said she thought it was “something to do with a stolen car”.

“When he’s gone to bring it up with me I have cut him off because I don’t want any knowledge of whatever,” she said.

The woman said that if Glowacki was released to live with her and broke his bail conditions that she would call police and report him.

She said she he could live with her at a property she rented from her uncle and that her uncle had granted permission for him to live there.

The woman said she was unemployed and would be able to drive him to his appointments.

The bail application has been adjourned until later this week.