Portland man remanded in custody charged with Percy Street home invasion

Rodney Cluney, 31, of Willungana Street, appeared in Warrnambool Magistrates Court where he made a bail application. He faces charges of aggravated burglary and home invasion.

Magistrate Mark Stratmann said if Mr Cluney was not released on bail he would spend 11 months in custody on remand before a committal mention in November.

But, he said the victim remained in fear of the accused following the alleged aggravated burglary, which carried a maximum penalty of 25 years' imprisonment.

The court heard Mr Cluney's criminal history included an aggravated burglary in 2015 and an incident in 2018 where he was caught trespassing in Portland with no pants on and covered in blue paint.

Mr Stratmann said the accused had failed to show compelling reasons why he should be released on bail and remanded him in custody until November.

Portland police Senior Constable Leah Sullivan said Mr Cluney and two co-accused attended a unit in Portland's Percy Street between 1am and 2am on December 20.

She said the 46-year-old male victim woke up and answered the front door before the three offenders began punching, kicking and kneeing him in the face.

The victim was forced backwards into a bathroom.

Mr Cluney continued to hit the victim while asking why he called his sister a prostitute, the court was told.

The offenders demanded money but the victim said he only had $15 on a bench. They allegedly told the victim: "You better not say anything or you are fu****".

Senior Constable Leah Sullivan said the victim suffered bruising and swelling to his face.

She said following day he located the accused's watch in the bathroom.

Mr Cluney allegedly returned to the property that day to retrieve his belongings.

When the victim answered the door, the offender said "you took it like a man and didn't say anything to police."

The victim reported the incident to police on December 23.

Mr Cluney was arrested on January 3. Police located 0.3 grams of cannabis in his pocket and he was remanded in custody.

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