By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A CRANBOURNE man, who was part an armed burglary of a family home, has been spared jail in an adult prison despite being charged under the state’s toughened home invasion laws.
Bill Tang, 19, was one of five teenagers charged over the invasion of a Brighton East home that awoke its occupying husband, wife and children, about 3am on 23 April.
The court heard he was out on bail for similar offences at the time of the incident.
During the incident, the male resident screamed out and swung his fists as he was beaten by three of the intruders – described as young African males – holding beach umbrella poles.
He was then pelted with rocks by the group, and dragged along as he clung to his BMW X5 as it was stolen from his garage.
Tang faced a 25-year maximum jail term at the County Court of Victoria for the ‘home invasion’ offence of entering a premise with intent to steal with co-offenders armed with offensive weapons.
The offence had been introduced by the State Government on 31 August.
Tang pleaded guilty to the charge as well as recklessly causing injury, stealing a vehicle, dishonestly handling four stolen mobile phones and two stolen computers and committing indictable offences while on bail.
In sentencing on 9 November, Judge Phillip Misso said it was “abundantly clear” that home invaders now faced a “stern” sentence for aggravated burglaries under the new laws.
Judge Misso noted he had recently sentenced Tang to 18 months of youth detention for similar offending with the same co-offenders at a Rosanna home last year.
He said the Brighton East family had endured a “terrifying episode”, in which the man had fought off armed intruders.
The man had received injuries to his shoulder, elbow, hand, knees and feet during the car theft, and he and his family no longer felt safe in their home.
“To say their life changed as a result is an understatement,” Judge Misso said.
On the other hand, the judge noted the Crown hadn’t alleged Tang entered the home.
Judge Misso also factored in a favourable Youth Justice pre-sentence report, Tang’s age, guilty plea, rehabilitation prospects, immature and impressionable personality as well as the “undesirable influences” within adult prison.
He said Tang showed “some” remorse and now understood the need to break away from co-offenders.
Ethiopian-born Tang had been largely raised by his mother. He was six when his father died.
Tang was sentenced to two years and eight months in a youth justice centre, served concurrently with his previous detention.
He was disqualified from driving for 18 months.
