A man who orchestrated an attack on an elderly man in order to steal money for drugs then tried to stop the victim pressing a panic button to get help.
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Paul Branson’s actions were the latest in a series of poor life choices, Wodonga County Court heard yesterday.
It was his idea on April 15 last year to sit with 75-year-old Leo Duncan in his Wodonga home, while his girlfriend Louise Bryson hit him in the head from behind with a wooden plank.
Branson, 47, stole $140 in cash from the victim’s wallet when he was on the ground, then helped him up.
But he did not want Mr Duncan to bring in emergency services – the elderly man hit the button five times anyway.
He ended up requiring 25 stitches for cuts to his head and a cast for his broken hand.
Crown prosecutor Andrew Moore said the aggravated burglary, intentionally causing injury and theft charges were too serious for anything other than a jail term.
“Branson planned the escapade, he facilitated the attack by leaving the stick at the door and the door unlocked,” he said.
Defence barrister Charles Morgan said it was not the plan for the attack to go so far.
“My client didn’t know, and couldn’t have known, about the ferocity of the attack – that certainly wasn’t discussed,” he said.
“He was quite distressed at what they had done.”
He said Branson’s history of dishonesty and violence since he was a teenager was driven by a drug addiction.
Judge Frank Gucciardo pointed out Branson told a friend later that day that he encouraged Bryson to “hit him harder” during her attack on Mr Duncan.
He adjourned the case until a date to be fixed in mid-March when he will sentence both Branson and Bryson.