Matt Colin Joseph Kuhn jailed in Bowen Court

A scaffolder has smashed his way into a home, destroying gates, doors and a television before fleeing when confronted by the bat-wielding homeowner.

Man jailed after driving through a gate and tearing a door off its hinges.

A scaffolder who drove through a closed gate and ripped the hinges off a man’s door claims he was invited to the home.

Matt Colin Joseph Kuhn appeared in Bowen Magistrates Court on Thursday for causing “significant” damage to a Proserpine property on the afternoon of July 13.

The court heard the 28-year-old drove to the victim’s property with a passenger, smashing through a closed gate before stopping and banging on the door.

He then ripped the exterior door off its hinges and broke an interior door. Police said it was at this point the victim went to his bedroom and grabbed a bat.

He could hear Kuhn smashing a television, but when the victim came back out with the bat Kuhn left the home and drove away.

Kuhn told the court he was invited to the property but Magistrate Anna Smith said she did not accept that claim.

“If he was invited over there why did he have to drive through the front gate?” she said.

“Everything points to the fact that he actually wasn’t.”

Ms Smith said the community was so sick of people breaking into homes.

“Someone should be able to be safe in their own home,” she said.

Kuhn pleaded guilty to charges of wilful damage, aggravated burglary and driving without a license.

He was jailed for 12 months and disqualified from holding a licence for two years.

Ms Smith said she saw no reason to reduce the non parole period to less than the standard one third.

He will be released on parole on November 16 and was ordered to pay $3000 compensation.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Matt Colin Joseph Kuhn jailed in Bowen Court