A man who went to his former employer's house in a rage and broke into his house armed with a metal bar could be imprisoned.
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Eaglehawk man Joshua Williams was employed by the victim on a casual basis before they had a dispute over pay.
Then on July 28 last year Williams discovered his car had been damaged and accused the victim of being the culprit.
About 12.30pm, Williams went to the victim's house with the intention of confronting him over the damage, but no one answered the door.
Williams entered the home through a window and unlocked the front door.
Video filmed on a phone showed him in the house.
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Later that afternoon, Williams again returned after seeing the victim's vehicle outside the home. This time, he was armed with a metal bar.
The victim asked Williams to leave, but he kicked the door and smashed a window panel, spitting through it onto the victim.
Video footage shown to the court showed Williams in a rage, yelling, "You keyed my f***king car" and "I'll f***king kill you".
Williams then ran to the side of the house and kicked in another door, before running through the house.
The victim fled through the front door upon hearing the back door break open.
The victim's partner, who was also home at the time, hid in the bedroom and called triple-0.
In the County Court on Thursday, Williams pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, trespassing and unlawful assault. The 23-year-old had no criminal history.
Defence counsel Markorius Habib said his client pleaded guilty early in the proceedings, which demonstrated his remorse and acceptance of responsibility, and had not breached bail since the offences.
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Mr Habib said the offending resulted from a loss of self-control and poor anger management.
"This is a completely out-of-character series of offences," he said.
Williams had since taken steps to address his problem with anger, Mr Habib said, and "regrets his actions incredibly".
He said his client had a strong support network and submitted Judge David Brookes sentence him to a community corrections order, which would allow him to continue addressing his issues and could also include significant community work hours as punishment.
But prosecutor David Cordy said a combination of imprisonment and a community corrections order was appropriate, describing the incident as a serious example of a confrontational aggravated burglary.
"A message needs to be sent... that this is just not on," Mr Cordy said.
Judge Brookes ordered Williams be assessed for a community corrections order and adjourned sentencing to later this month.
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Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
