A Heywood man who pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated burglary with a knife has had a more distressing experience on remand than most, a lawyer says.
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Wilson Reiri, 21, previously of Portland, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool County Court on Friday to attempted aggravated burglary, making a threat to kill, intentionally damaging property and possessing a controlled weapon.
The court heard Reiri attended a property in Portland's Trangmar Street on April 9 and entered through a rear gate about 8am.
The victims were inside asleep.
Reiri began knocking on the rear door of the residence, waking a female victim who got out of bed and observed the offender wearing a hooded jumped over his head.
The man began yelling at the victim, who told him she would call the police if he did not leave.
The court heard the yelling woke the woman's partner, who also came to the door.
Reiri continued to yell, swear and bang on the rear door of the property.
He then used a wooden deck chair to hit the door about 10 times in an attempt to get inside.
After failing to break the door, Reiri grabbed a knife from his bag and repeatedly threatened to kill the victims.
He then broke a pot plant before stabbing the door with the knife and leaving the property.
The damage bill was estimated to be $580, the court heard.
Reiri was intercepted by police walking on a nearby street.
Officers seized a 32-centimetre kitchen knife from his bag.
The court heard Reiri and the victims were known to each other.
Lawyer Anthony Pyne said his client had long-standing mental health issues and was admitted to a psychiatric facility as a teenager.
He said Reiri had spent about six months in custody on remand - an experience he found more distressing than others due to being transferred to a prison acute psychiatric unit.
"That experience is not an ordinary experience of jail," Mr Pyne said.
"Jail is hard enough."
Reiri will be sentenced on November 30.
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