A young man who stormed the home of a disabled pensioner and bashed him unconscious has been jailed, in a case a judge described as an act of vigilantism that could not be tolerated.
Kye David McLaughlin, now 24, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, assault and stealing over the violent home invasion in September 2022.
He was 20 at the time. He carried out the attack with a 15-year-old youth and a third man who has never been identified.
The Supreme Court heard the group went to the home of the 59-year-old victim, a disability support pensioner, around 7:30pm on September 29.
When the man opened his door, McLaughlin and the unidentified male forced their way in and pushed him into an armchair.
They repeatedly punched and kicked him in the head and body. He lost consciousness for a period.
The attackers stole coins, a phone, a key and some tobacco. One of them filmed the assault and the video was later shared on Snapchat.
Justice Tamara Jago said the victim “does not feel safe within his own home” and suffered nightmares.
The court heard McLaughlin believed the victim had acted inappropriately toward a young girl, though there was no evidence of any wrongdoing.
Jago said the attack was planned, not spontaneous, because the group had arranged to travel to the home together.
“To the extent that your conduct involves an element of vigilantism, it is to be condemned,” Jago said.
“The court cannot tolerate people seeking to extract retribution for what they perceive to be some level of wrongdoing, based purely on speculation.”
“Those who chose to behave in this way must be punished to send a very clear message that such conduct will not be tolerated and those who think it is appropriate to take the law into their own hands, will be met with strong responses from the court.”
McLaughlin lied to police and denied any involvement and has never named the third attacker.
She noted McLaughlin’s difficult upbringing and long drug use, but said the crime was “too serious” to avoid prison.
McLaughlin was sentenced to 21 months in prison, backdated to April 23, 2026, with the final nine months suspended on condition he commits no further offence punishable by imprisonment for two years.
He will not be eligible for parole until he has served six months.
