Teen jailed over knifepoint home invasion in St Albans

A teen who tried to sexually assault his neighbour at knifepoint and then choked her until she passed out during a “chilling and very disturbing” home invasion in Melbourne’s west, could be free in a year.

A teen who tried to sexually assault his neighbour at knifepoint has had his jail sentenced slashed.

A teen who broke into his neighbour’s St Albans home and choked her until she passed out in a bid to sexually assault her, could walk free from jail in just a year after his sentence was slashed on appeal.

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The reduced prison term comes despite the young man’s alleged involvement in several violent incidents against other inmates while in custody.

The offender, known only as AS, was last December sentenced to two and a half years in jail for his “chilling and very disturbing” daytime crimes.

AS was 17 years old when he jumped his backyard fence and entered his 19-year-old victim’s home through an unlocked sliding door about 9.30am on April 12 last year.

Once inside, he stole an iPhone, sunglasses, $50 cash and a laptop before arming himself with a 40cm kitchen knife and entering the woman’s bedroom, where she was asleep.

She woke up to him standing next to her bed, pointing the knife at her and telling her “get off your clothes now”.

While he grabbed at her clothes, he put her in a headlock and tightened his grip until she lost consciousness.

The teen had been living with his uncle at the time, who told police he had received a text from his nephew saying “Uncle, don’t tell the cops I stay with you”.

When interviewed, he told police he had “no interest in the house next door” and had never been there, despite CCTV footage and fingerprints placing him at the scene.

The court heard the offender regularly smoked marijuana and had abused methylamphetamine and alcohol.

But despite reports from psychologists stating the teen “presents a continuing risk to the community”, Supreme Court Justice John Champion shaved six months of his sentence.

Justice Champion the offender’s youth, early guilty plea and prospects of rehabilitation afforded him a reduced sentence.

With time already served, AS will be free in about a year.