A COUNTY Court judge has remanded a man in custody after he terrorised Golden Square residents during an "appalling rampage" earlier this year.
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Judge Frances Hogan said 23-year-old Rory East acted like a "little menace" when he damaged property, assaulted multiple victims, and broke into an innocent man's home.
East on Tuesday pleaded guilty to the charges of aggravated burglary, assault, damaging property, and theft. He was remanded in custody ahead of being sentenced.
The court heard on the evening of January 6 this year, East and an unidentified man went to an address on Chum Street in Golden Square.
They damaged a letter box and threatened to attack a victim before moving onto another address in Maple Street.
East spoke to a man who had been dropped off at the property in a friendly manner before his demeanour changed when the man refused to give him a high five.
The court heard he became angry and headbutted the man in his teeth, before his associate restrained him and pulled him away from the scene.
Before he left the property, East damaged the rear tail light of a car.
The pair then walked to a Curnow Street address. A man who was sitting inside the property heard loud voices and banging, so he exited the front door with a flashlight to see what was happening.
The man saw East stumble so he approached him to check if he was ok, but East threatened to hurt him.
The man turned to walk back to his house but East came at him and punched him to the back of the head.
The victim dropped his torch and East took the item before fleeing the scene with his associate.
The court heard shortly after 9.40pm, the pair damaged another letter box on Booth Street before going to an address on Pallett Street.
A 55-year-old man who was inside the property heard loud voices so he exited his front door to see what had happened.
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East was acting aggressive and came towards the man so he tried to lock the door, but the 23-year-old kicked down the security door and entered the property.
The victim fell back and hit his head. East began looking through the man's belongings while the victim moved to the kitchen.
East then rushed at the victim, yelling at him and pushing him to the ground. The man's head started to bleed so East moved away and fled the scene.
The victim had to be hospitalised for cuts to his head. Police attended the scene but East was not arrested until the next day.
During his record of police interview, East admitted to attacking the last victim but said he was only retaliating after the man hit him first.
When he was shown photos of the man's injuries, East said he "felt like a f****** crumb" for his actions and he regretted what he had done.
The 23-year-old also said he took sleeping tablets and consumed a significant amount of alcohol on the day of the offending.
Defence counsel William Blake told the court it was conceded that the offending was "brazen" and serious, but said there was context.
Mr Blake said East broke up with his long term partner and his grandfather was taken off life support in the months leading up to the offending.
The defence counsel also noted East started abusing drugs at a young age as a result of family violence in his home.
But Judge Hogan said there was no psychological evidence before the court about East's background or condition.
The judge said the offending was appalling, nasty, and antisocial, with innocent victims being targeted in a "cowardly" attack.
Judge Hogan noted East's prior convictions and his previous failed attempts at community corrections orders.
The judge said the only appropriate course of action was to remand East in custody from Tuesday.
But Judge Hogan said she would adjourn the plea to allow the defence to obtain a psychological report.
The case was adjourned to March next year. East was remanded in custody ahead of his next County Court hearing.
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