A DIMBOOLA man who pleaded guilty to making threats with a steak knife will undertake a community corrections order.
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Jaiden Castleman, 18, appeared at Horsham Magistrates' Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to several charges, including affray and theft.
The charges related to an assault and a burglary which both occurred in Murtoa last year. The court heard that Castleman and three other people were involved in the incidents.
They were Murtoa resident Emily Hahn, then 19; Horsham resident Byron Kidd, then 19; and a teenage girl who was not named. The victim was a Murtoa man, aged 25 at the time of the incident.
The assault occurred on July 26 at Murtoa. The victim heard a car revving loading outside his house. He recognised the car and called the police.
At 12.30am, the victim went outside his house and saw people hiding in the shadows. Kidd and Castleman approached the victim. Kidd was holding a hockey stick and Castleman produced a steak knife.
An altercation occurred on the street between Kidd and the victim, and the victim was hit on his head with the hockey stick. The co-accused Hahn drove at the victim, striking him at least once.
The victim was taken to Wimmera Base Hospital in Horsham, and was treated for head and leg injuries.
Police executed a search warrant at a Murtoa property on July 26 where the hockey stick and knife were located. The alleged perpetrators were taken to Horsham Police Station and interviewed.
Police also found a number of suspected stolen items at the property during the search warrant.
A total of 83 items were photographed and alleged to have been stolen property. The total value of the items was unknown, but included a watch worth $195, a wine glass worth $95 and DVDs worth $1750. Police sought a total of $2045 restitution for items that weren't recovered.
Hahn appeared at court in July. She pleaded guilty to several charges, including reckless conduct causing serious injury and numerous traffic offences. Hahn received a community corrections order.
Kidd appeared at court on April 18 where he pleaded guilty to four charges, including recklessly causing injury, affray and theft. He received a community corrections order and will have to complete 150 hours of unpaid work within 15 months. He will also be made to pay restitution worth $600.
The teenage girl was placed on a good behaviour bond.
Magistrate Mark Stratmann said the offences were very serious in nature, particularly because Castleman had just turned 18 at the time of the incident.
"This was a horrendous incident and serious offences like this could earn jail time. It makes it more frightening that it was in a group," Mr Stratmann said.
"You are still very young. This kind of offending if repeated could result in jail."
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Michelle Wentworth said police were seeking a DNA procedure.
Castleman's defence lawyer Rita Sparham said her client opposed the procedure. She also said that no other co-offenders had been jailed.
Castleman was sentenced to a community corrections order. He will have to complete 165 hours of community work over 18 months. Mr Stratmann also approved the DNA procedure.
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