POLICE are on the hunt for a man who broke into a Castlemaine home and held a knife to a man’s throat as he and his children slept.
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The man is alleged to have broken into the victim’s home about 5.30am on Thursday, along with two other men who have been charged with stealing an iPod and a violin from the property.
The Bendigo Magistrates Court heard the man pinned the victim down on his bed and told him if he moved he would slit his throat.
Police allege he then punched the victim multiple times before he threw a TV and computer out the bedroom window. The two co-accused – Adam Simmons, 32 and Anthony Edwards, 34 – were waiting outside the property at the time and were later arrested at the scene.
Both were charged with aggravated burglary and kept in police custody before being released on bail yesterday.
The court heard that as police arrived, Edwards yelled out “five-O” and “police”.
The man accused of using a knife then escaped through the back door as police arrived. He has yet to be charged.
Detective Senior Constable Malcolm Crane said the police investigation was ongoing.
He told the court the break-in was believed to be an attempt by the men to “retrieve stolen property”.
The court heard that during the break-in Edwards had taken an aluminium baseball bat to the victim’s bedroom and unsuccessfully tried to climb in through the window, while Simmons waited in the car. Edwards was later found to have been in possession of a small amount of the drug ice.
Detective Crane said he opposed Edwards’ bail application on the grounds that he was a danger to the community and was at risk of returning to the victim’s home. Edwards represented himself in court and said he had no information on why the men attended the victim’s property, other than a request to collect stolen goods.
He also claimed that he had been holding a Red Bull drink can and not a baseball bat.
Edwards’ mother gave evidence to the court and asked that he be released to live with her in Carisbrook.
Magistrate Bruce Cottrill granted bail and ordered Edwards to comply with strict reporting conditions, with a curfew between 9am and 6pm. Simmons was bailed to a Castlemaine address.
