ONE of two men who bashed a Frankston woman in a savage home invasion two years ago was sentenced to six and a half years jail in the Melbourne Country Court on 9 May.
Detective Senior Constable Flyn Loughlin, of Frankston CIU, said the 30-year-old, of Frankston, was convicted on charges of recklessly causing serious injury, false imprisonment and theft over the attack which occurred at 10pm, 29 July 2015.
However, his co-offender in the crime – in which the Karingal woman, 50, received serious head and facial injuries – is still at large and police are determined to catch him.
Detective Loughlin said the men bound the woman after she answered a knock on her door, then forced their way inside. They kicked and punched her to the head and body, knocked her down, caused facial fractures, and even attempted to strangle her.
The men made off with the woman’s TV set – possibly a “red herring” to trick detectives into thinking their motive was robbery – and fled. Detective Loughlin would not elaborate on other, more plausible, reasons for the attack.
The woman managed to call 000 and alert police and an ambulance which took her to Frankston Hospital where she is still receiving treatment.
Extensive investigations using DNA evidence left at the scene led to the convicted man being interviewed and charged by Detective Loughlin in November – almost 18 months after the attack.
He has refused to name his accomplice but police are hopeful of a break though and appeal to members of the public with information to come forward.
