Thuggish and brutal attack on St James woman by father and son after neighbour dispute

The 64-year-old victim of Arthur and Quinton Rule's horrific home invasion at St James in 2019 spent four days in intensive care, underwent three surgeries and was left with lasting injuries.

The County Court on Monday heard the injuries were life-threatening and the victim would have been dead without medical intervention.

Her poodles, which she told the court through a victim impact statement were like family, were also attacked.

"The impact of the crime has been unrelenting fear," the woman said.

"The offending happened so fast, I didn't have time to process what was happening.

"I've been diagnosed with lifelong health issues due to the multiple injuries I've sustained.

"The overwhelming fear has affected my mental health severely and I see a trauma psychologist."

The offenders and victim were next door neighbours on Devenish Road.

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The late night attack on July 20 saw father Arthur attend the woman's house armed with a bat and son Quinton attend with a large metal pole.

The victim woke about 11.30pm, walked into her dining room, and saw something shatter a glass door.

Arthur hit her in the back and she fell to the ground as Quinton cracked her with the pipe.

The pair hit and kicked her while she was down.

Her 13-year-old toy poodle was hit and she heard something get thrown into a wall.

"Get out, get out of town and don't go to cops," the older man screamed.

She was kicked again and crawled over broken glass to her vehicle as she struggled to breathe.

She was given her keys and was told she couldn't take her dogs with her.

The pair smashed her car as she fled, with the victim driving to a nearby home and yelling out for help as blood came from her mouth.

The 64-year-old was flown to the Royal Melbourne Hospital and stayed for two weeks.

Her lungs collapsed, her spleen had to be removed, multiple ribs were fractured, her spine was injured and multiple fingers were broken.

The pair, who had been involved in a neighbour dispute with the victim, were arrested the following day.

The court heard there had been issues about a tree over the victim's property which she had cut.

She has since left the area.

Arthur rule spent 279 days in custody before being bailed in April last year, and his son remains in custody with more than 700 days served.

The Rules have pleaded guilty and will return to court on August 23.

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