Wodonga man in jail awaiting sentence after accomplice got 16-month term

Kane Fearn carried out much of the attack, but Ivan Morgan Edwards also assaulted the victim including hitting him in the head with a wooden pick handle.

The pair had targeted the man, Albury Local Court has been told, because Fearn was angry with the victim's partner.

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He yelled at the victim that the woman was a "dog" and, police said, that he was going to take her car as "she made him lose his".

Fearn has already been sentenced over his role in the attack from two years ago, handed a 16-month jail sentence with a non-parole period of eight months.

Defence lawyer Pravinda Pahalawela submitted that Edwards played a lesser role in the assault.

Appearing via a video link to Junee jail, Edwards, now 44, of Lawry Street, Wodonga, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and enter enclosed lands.

Charges of destroy or damage property and of being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence were withdrawn.

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The court was told how the victim and his partner were in their Swan Street backyard at about 12.50am on October 19, 2019, when a utility suddenly reversed down the driveway and smashed through the closed metal gates.

Fearn, who was armed with the pick handle, and Edwards got out of the ute and walked to the back door.

He held open the flywire screen door for Fearn, now aged 45, who repeatedly kicked the wooden door that led into the laundry.

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Edwards pulled a balaclava over his head as Fearn continued kicking as well as yelling out to the victim.

After putting a hole in the door Fearn and Edwards returned to the middle of the yard followed by the victim, who had armed himself with an ornamental axe.

Soon after, Fearn unleashed the first of several punches at the victim, who Edwards assaulted with the pick handle.

Edward's sentencing was set down for October 25.

He remains in custody, with bail refused.

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