Volkam Ozalp, 28, faced several charges, including false imprisonment, intentionally causing serious injury and theft, in the Bendigo Magistrates Court yesterday.

Police allege Ozalp is one of three men who drove from Melbourne to Echuca on January 18 with the “express intention” of harming and robbing the woman and her partner.

The woman was not known to Ozlap but was the de facto partner of the father of Mustafa Hadis, one of the co-accused.

The court was told Hadis and his father were estranged and had just renewed contact after 18 years.

Police informant Senior Constable Ray McNish said Ozalp, Hadis and another co-accused (who cannot be named as he is a minor) travelled from Broadmeadows to Echuca in the early hours of January 18.

Senior Constable McNish alleged the men had attached stolen number plates over the car’s registered plates and had packed gloves, a plastic mallet and packing tape. A machete and flick-knife were also found in the car during a later police search.

He said when the men arrived in Echuca they parked the car a short distance from the woman’s home.

“The victim was home alone in bed,” he said.

“About 7am she was awoken by a noise at her window. Hadis was standing in the front yard outside her bedroom window.”

The court was told that when the victim went outside Hadis grabbed her, pulled her to the ground and tried to drag her back inside, calling for help from Ozalp and the other co-accused.

It is alleged all three then punched the woman and struck her in the arms and face with the rubber mallet.

Senior Constable McNish said a knife was also produced during the ordeal, which made the woman fear for her life.

“They dragged the victim into the house and her hands, face, mouth and head were covered in packing tape to quell her screams,” he said.