Two men who brandished a tomahawk while breaking into a Temora family’s home as the children slept have been jailed.
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A third man was punished by way of a suspended sentence in Wagga District Court on Friday for his involvement in the September 23 break-in.
Daniel Thomas Judd, Gary Thomas Gray and Dylan Ingram entered the Temora home as two victims hid under the bed, escaping with $9100, two Samsung mobiles and a wallet.
According to agreed facts tendered to the court, the victim had recently won $160,000 in online gambling.
There was about $10,000 cash at the home. The victim told police of plans to purchase a vehicle the following day.
About 9.30pm the family turned out the lights and put the children to bed.
One family member was struggling to sleep when he noticed the baby monitor screen – which displayed the front yard – suddenly cut out about 4am.
Investigating further, the man noticed the three accused in the yard, before retreating underneath the children’s bed, pulling a blanket down to the floor to remain hidden.
While under the bed, one victim contacted emergency services and spoke to the operator, before accidentally hanging up after hearing footsteps inside the house.
Another victim woke to the sight of a person in the door of her bedroom, before heading to the kitchen.
The facts state Ingram told the victim that he didn’t want to hurt anyone and had just come for the money. Ingram also assured the victim he would leave the phones out the back after they left the house.
Ingram, 25, of Wagga, was sentenced to two years and six months’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 18 months, after pleading guilty to aggravated enter dwelling with intent and stealing.
He was also sentenced to one year of prison for stealing from a person and a further three months for attempting to receive property.
Gray, 30, of Wagga, was sentenced to two years and three months’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of one year and four months, after pleading guilty to one count of aggravated enter dwelling with intent.
Judd, 32, of Griffith, received a 12-month suspended sentence for one count of aggravated enter dwelling with intent. Judd was arrested just two hours after the incident after a search of his vehicle revealed the two stolen phones.
