Michael Lemau: Teen crim pleads guilty to Truganina home invasion

A teen forced his way into a family’s home in Melbourne’s west and ransacked it while they and their young son slept, a court has heard.

Michael Lemau, 19, pleaded guilty to home invasion and other charges at the County Court after ransacking a Truganina home with two of his mates.

A teen criminal will serve time in an adult jail after he and his mates forced their way into a Melbourne family’s home while they slept.

Michael Lemau, 19, was sentenced in the County Court to more than two years in prison on February 1 after pleading guilty to charges of theft, home invasion, obtain property by deception and unlicensed driving.

Judge Michael Bourke told the court Lemau and his mates, one of who was of similar age to him, forced their way through the front door of a Truganina family’s home about 3.30am on March 15 last year.

The family, including the couple’s young son, remained asleep as the youth helped themselves to the their belongings and made their escape.

Lemau and his mates made off with more than $9000 worth of jewellery and other items including Chanel earrings, two diamond rings, brand name watches and a Gucci bag.

They also swiped a bank card which Lemau later used to treat himself to more than $30 worth of food from McDonalds, and keys to two cars, including a $33,500 Mercedes.

The Mercedes and the family’s other car, a Toyota, were both stolen, and the Mercedes was never recovered, Judge Bourke told the court.

“CCTV footage at the front door of the home shows you and your (co-accused) entering. You were carrying what appears to be a jemmy bar,” Mr Bourke told the court.

“For a young man aged 19, you have an extensive criminal record.

“I accept that the circumstances of the offences here do not feature some of the aggravating factors that are at times present in the crime, however it remains a serious and threatening intrusion into a family’s sense of safety.”

The identity of the third offender remained a mystery.

In sentencing Lemau to two-and-a-half years’ jail with a non-parole period of 14 months, Judge Bourke said Lemau had been deemed unsuitable for youth detention given his poor track record.

He told the court he believed Lemau, who struggled with mental health and drug addiction issues, stood a greater chance of rehabilitation after serving a stint in an adult prison, where he was being held.

“This is a regrettable situation in respect of a young offender with your intellectual and mental health problems,” Judge Bourke said.

Mr Bourke declared 257 days’ presentence detention time served.