By Breanna Taylor
A 29 year old factory worker has been sentenced to 12 months jail following an aggravated burglary and assault on his ex-girlfriend and her partner in Pakenham.
Callum Caves appeared at the County Court of Victoria on Monday 1 April where he pleaded guilty to intentionally causing injury and aggravated burglary on July 20 2018.
About 10:30pm a highly intoxicated Caves broke into his ex- girlfriend’s Pakenham home. Having used a key that was previously in his possession, Caves entered the property followed by an unidentified masked man carrying a fire arm.
Once inside Caves entered the bedroom where his ex -girlfriend and partner were asleep. He proceeded to strike the man on the head and hit his ex-partner on the arm and body after she tried to intervene. Having previously resided at the Pakenham address, a neighbour recognised Caves leaving the home. He was assaulted receiving 6 lacerations to the head and taken to a nearby hospital by ambulance.
It was reported the accused had jealous tendencies and sent a string of texts to his previous girlfriend just days before the assault. Their relationship was labelled by Caves as “toxic,” and ended in 2017.
Judge Gucciardo described the incident as “very serious criminal behaviour,” suggesting the terrifying ordeal would have had significant psychological impact on the victims.
“This in breach of the security and integrity of a person’s home, a place where a person is entitled to feel safe in, where citizens are entitled to feel protected.”
Judge Gucciardo took Caves’ guilty plea into consideration and acknowledged his remorse and regret following the assault. He suggested that the accused’s tumultuous childhood and ADHD diagnosis had a significant impact on his behaviour having lost both of his parents to drug overdoses.
Caves has had a long standing history of alcohol and drug abuse and significant prior criminal history involving theft, weapons and drugs.
Judge Gucciardo acknowledged Caves’ relatively good behaviour in recent years.
Caves was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment followed by a 12-month rehabilitative corrections order.
