Sleeping man beaten in violent home invasion

‘‘He was vulnerable. He was outnumbered five to one. He was vulnerable because he was asleep when the defendants and their cohort surrounded him in the room.’’

Judge Jonathan Krebbs

A violent trio has admitted bashing a man during a brutal home invasion.

Kelly Hancock, Laurence Adam Bishop and Bianca Anna Hana Somers pleaded guilty in the Palmerston North District Court on Friday.

They are charged with demanding with menace, theft and injuring with intent to injure.

Judge Jonathan Krebbs said the trio and ‘‘maybe one or two others’’ were hunting for the victim to recover a debt last year on June 2. ‘‘They searched about ... but were unable to find him.’’

The group then visited the victim’s elderly grandmother, who disclosed his address. They entered the house, where the man was asleep on the couch.

The group stood over the victim and woke him by demanding money. Bishop punched him in the face three times.

Somers then shouted at him, while Bishop continued to land several punches.

A fourth person, who does not face charges, also hit the victim in the face.

Bishop demanded the keys to the victim’s car, before he noticed they were on the couch. The group stole the keys, a mobile phone and a wallet.

The judge said Bishop and Somers continued to hit the victim, cracking his nose.

Bishop kneed him under the chin. Then they left. ‘‘Bishop gave him one final punch in the face,’’ the judge said.

Police found the group in the car, with the wallet and phone, a short time later.

The victim received treatment from paramedics. The judge said the attack was calculated, premeditated and involved an invasion of property.

The trio had spent time hunting the victim, he said.

‘‘I have no doubt violence was anticipated, otherwise they could have made a phone call,’’ Judge Krebbs said.

‘‘He was vulnerable. He was outnumbered five to one. He was vulnerable because he was asleep when the defendants and their cohort surrounded him in the room.’’

The three who pleaded guilty were equally culpable, the judge said.

The trio will reappear in court for sentencing next month.