A heavily pregnant mother and her 12-year-old daughter were confronted in their home by a stranger with a knife, Inverell Local Court was told yesterday.
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Luke Ellis, aged 22-years, faced Inverell Local Court on Thursday, charged with several offences after being arrested on Wednesday night.
Magistrate Trad said the incident was very disturbing.
“This mother and daughter were subjected to what can only be described as a terrifying situation,” she said.
Magistrate Trad went on to say that one could only imagine the fear the two felt.
Mr Ellis was charged with armed with intent to commit indictable offence, aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence armed, stalk/intimidate intend fear, physical harm etc, take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, use offensive weapon to prevent harmful detention, drive with high range PCA and drive motor vehicle during disqualification period.
The defence said that Mr Ellis was at another home prior to the incident and that he didn’t know the pair. They acknowledged he was likely to face incarceration.
The defence said that the local man had steady employment and support from his family. He had been seeking help for medical issues.
The defence argued that Mr Ellis should be put on conditional bail due to his lack of previous violent offences, however the magistrate said that the alleged offence showed an escalation of behaviour.
The magistrate said Mr Ellis had been involved with police earlier in the evening. He was refused bail and scheduled to reappear on Thursday, September 21.