Michael Shaun Washington pleads guilty to meth-driven burglary, assault

A Bundaberg court has heard of the moment a courageous husband and wife fought off a bloody and terrifying home invasion that left one of them severely injured.

Michael Shaun Washington appeared from custody in the Bundaberg District Court.

A Bundaberg man was jailed on Tuesday over a meth fuelled bender in which he used two axes to break into the home of total strangers.

Michael Shaun Washington, 42, pleaded guilty to burglary by breaking while armed, assault occasioning bodily harm and common assault when he fronted the Bundaberg District Court.

Crown prosecutor Toby Corsbie told the court Washington had a “lengthy” criminal history including violent domestic assault which involved pushing an ex-partner’s head through a wall.

The court heard the former council worker had been attempting to cope with his depression when he turned away from his previous vice of cannabis and alcohol to methamphetamines.

Defence barrister Simone Bain said Washington was abusing the drug daily when, after taking a heavier than normal dosage, he went on a violent “bender.”

Mr Corsbie told the court at roughly 4pm on September 1, 2022 Washington approached a Bundaberg home unknown to him armed with two axes and proceeded to “smash his way into the house by breaking one glass door with [the] axe”.

Michael Shaun Washington appeared from custody in the Bundaberg District Court.

“[He] then assaults the complainant who stood up to him by hitting him in the ribs with the head of the axe, fracturing three ribs,” he said.

“[He] then swung the axe at the complainant’s head, the complainant managed to catch the handle, but his ring finger was severely cut in the process.”

The court heard Washington pushed the 61-year-old man to the ground, who managed to keep hold of the first axe as his wife stepped in to grab Washington’s arm to prevent him from swinging the second axe.

Somewhat restrained, the court heard Washington lost his grip on the first axe, which slipped out of his hand to hit the complainant in the head, causing a cut.

Neighbours came to the couple’s aid, pulling the axes from Washington who fled the scene, the court heard.

The court heard Washington was arrested later that day after making his way to a local basketball court, where he removed his belt and “struck” a female bystander on the buttocks before being chased into a nearby creek by members of the public where he was found by police.

Michael Shaun Washington appeared in custody at the Bundaberg District Court.

Ms Bain told the court the father of four had “a very limited recollection of what happened … he just described that when he was on this bender … time [is] unusual for him.”

The court heard Washington had been subjected to “horrific, graphic beatings” in his childhood, which had rendered him homeless at just 11-years-old.

Despite having varied work throughout his adult life, he struggled with mental health issues alongside drug and alcohol abuse, and was introduced to meth in his early 40s.

Judge Vicki Loury condemned Washington for his meth use, and said “it does not escape me that men who start using methylamphetamine when they are middle age experience a life that spirals out of control very quickly.”

“No doubt this was a terrifying experience for the man and his wife.”

Washington was given a head sentence of five years in prison for the burglary charge, a two-year sentence for assault occasioning bodily harm and 12 months for common assault to be served concurrently.

His 418 days in presentence custody was declared time served and he will be eligible for parole on May 1, 2024.

Originally published as Michael Shaun Washington pleads guilty to meth-driven burglary, assault