Men jailed for taking law into own hands

TWO men who broke into an alcoholic neighbour’s house to persuade him to stop being a pest in the community will spend time in jail after being convicted of assault and theft.

Guy Jon Lorenz, 59, and Scott Phillip Strahan, 39, of Queenstown, had been drinking when they decided to confront the man about his behaviour, which the court heard was upsetting elderly residents.

The Supreme Court in Burnie heard the victim would play loud music at inappropriate hours and abuse residents and complaints to police had changed the behaviour.

Justice Michael Brett told Lorenz and Strahan he could understand their concern about the victim’s behaviour but it was not an excuse to take the law into their own hands.

Strahan was convicted of four counts of assault, aggravated burglary and damage to property while Lorenz was convicted of three counts of assault and aggravated burglary.

Strahan was armed with a bat and Lorenz with a piece of timber when they broke the man’s door down in November, 2016. The victim suffered injuries from being punched, hit with the timber and at one point had scissors held to his neck and was forced to take prescription medication.

Lorenz was sentenced to 12 months in jail backdated to March 22. The last nine months of the sentence was suspended on condition he be of good behaviour for two years. Strahan was sentenced to 14 months in prison, the last 10 months of which was suspended on condition he be of good behaviour for two years.