A man who doused a woman in alcohol and her clothes in petrol during a ‘terrifying’ home invasion was sentenced to almost four years’ jail on Friday.
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Ashley Wale, 28, had an axe, a jerry can full of fuel and a bottle of premixed alcohol in his possession when he entered the victim’s home with two co-accused in Maryborough on September 27, 2017.
The County Court sitting in Bendigo heard Wale used the axe to smash two laptops owned by the victim, goading her before he did it, saying “hey, look at this babe”.
Crown prosecutor Anne Hassan told the court Wale then took the victim to her bedroom, poured alcohol over her, and ordered her to take her hoodie off.
The court heard Wale proceeded to douse the victim’s hoodie and other clothes on the bed in petrol before fleeing the scene by jumping over a back fence at the property.
Prosecutor Hassan said the victim was “terrified of being set alight”.
When police arrived, officers found some of the victim’s clothing burning on the back porch, but the court heard it was unclear who was responsible.
Prosecutor Hassan told the court no traces of petrol were found on the victim.
The court heard Wale’s co-offenders were convicted in the Bendigo Magistrates Court earlier this year.
Wale pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, theft, assault and intentionally damaging property.
In sentencing Wale to three years and eight months’ jail, Judge Lisa Hannan said: “We all have a right to live in our community without being subjected to this kind of disgraceful conduct.”
“It’s not difficult to conclude the victim would have been placed in significant fear as a result of your conduct within the premises.”
Wale’s defence lawyer Barnaby Johnston said his client’s drug and alcohol use were the source of his offending.
The court heard Wale began using one gram of the drug ice per day for eight months before the offence occurred following the death of his infant son.
Mr Johnston said Wale had been attacked by a fellow prisoner in May and was being held in protective custody, which he argued was more onerous for his client.
During a discussion with Mr Johnston on why Wale was at the victim’s property, Judge Hannan said: “He’s there to terrify here, when he pours petrol on the clothes and alcohol on her it's clear what he intended her to think.”
Wale, who has served around 370 days of pre-sentence detention, must spend a minimum of two years and four months in jail before he’s eligible for parole.
