Matthew John Kennewell stabbed man with screwdriver in Southport home

A Gold Coast man who woke to go to the bathroom and found an intruder in his lounge room holding a screwdriver and shoe was stabbed after threatening to call police in a terrifying incident. SEE THE VIDEO >>>

A FORMER tyre shop worker stabbed a man with a screwdriver after he was caught inside his home holding the tool and a shoe.

Matthew John Kennewell also punched the man in the face as he was chased from the Southport home just after midnight on March 12 last year.

The 31-year-old also threatened to kill a man in Ipswich if he did not hand over his shoes.

Kennewell pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court on Wednesday to multiple charges including attempted robbery, assault occasioning bodily harm, wounding, stealing and driving offences.

Matthew John Kennewell seen on CCTV footage outside the home in Southport.

Judge Geraldine Dann sentenced him to seven and a half years prison with parole eligibility in October next year.

She also disqualified him from holding a driving licence for three years.

The court was told a Southport man woke in March last year to go to the bathroom and found Kennewell in his lounge room holding the screwdriver and a shoe.

When the man told Kennewell he was calling police, Kennewell came at him, stabbing him in the chest.

He was left with a 1cm laceration.

The victim tried to chase Kennewell from the home and as Kennewell was leaving he turned and punched the victim in the face.

The victim was taken to hospital.

Matthew John Kennewell seen on CCTV footage outside the home in Southport.

Crown prosecutor Christopher Cook said weeks earlier Kennewell had told a man near a Big W in Ipswich that he liked his shoes.

Kennewell told him: “I like your shoes, give me your shoes or I will kill you.”

When the man refused, Kennewell punched him and head butted him.

The victim was left with a cut above his eyebrow.

Kennewell was only caught when he was spotted by police driving erratically in Nerang, which included going 100km/h in a 60km/h zone.

Defence barrister Nick McGhee, instructed by Ashkan Tai Lawyers, said Kennewell was a recovering drug addict and at the height of his addiction was taking 10 points of the drug ice in one day.

Kennewell also suffered an acquired brain injury after a motorcycle crash.

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Originally published as Matthew John Kennewell stabbed man with screwdriver in Southport home