A man who committed what has been described as a "vicious assault" on his 64-year-old female neighbour in St James has pleaded guilty to some, but not all, charges.
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Quinton Rule and his father Arthur have been accused of using a bat and a pole to smash a glass sliding door to enter the victim's home then assault her at about midnight on July 20 last year.
The woman's spleen was shattered and had to be removed, plus she had surgery on seven ribs, four broken fingers and a broken ankle, spending 14 days in hospital and four in the intensive care unit.
Quintin Rule appeared in Wangaratta Magistrates Court on Thursday via video link from custody where he has been since his arrest.
He pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, recklessly causing serious injury, intentionally damaging property and breaching an intervention order.
MORE NEWS FROM COURT:
His solicitor Geoff Clancy said Rule denied the charges of intentional causing serious injury, animal abuse and other charges related to the home invasion committed in concert with his father.
"He's saying he acted on his own," Mr Clancy said.
The victim told police both men were involved in the attack.
She managed to crawl out of her house and into her car to get away, but alleged both attackers hit the car panels and headlights with their weapons as she reversed out the driveway.
Quinton Rule's case will now proceed to the County Court, starting with a directions hearing in July.
