Longer jail time for Sunbury aggravated burglary

A man found guilty of an aggravated burglary in Sunbury involving his estranged wife has had his sentence extended in the Supreme Court of Appeal.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) appealed the six-year sentence handed down to Trevor Barnes, 39, in the County Court, describing it as ‘‘manifestly inadequate’’.

The appeal came after Barnes pleaded guilty to charges including aggravated burglary, intentionally causing serious injury and recklessly causing serious injury.

Barnes was charged after entering the unlocked door of a farmhouse at 5am on May 25, 2013 and hitting a man, who he found in the shower with his wife, several times to the head with a jemmy bar.

Barnes also struck his wife on the back, head and legs and kicked her in the face and the chest.

Barnes’ younger brother Glenn, who was present during the offending, was sentenced to three and a half years after being found guilty despite not participating in the assaults.

A DPP appeal against the sentence given to Glenn Barnes was dismissed.

Justice Michael Croucher found that the injuries caused to Trevor Barnes’ estranged wife and her partner were severe.

Barnes was resentenced to eight years with a non-parole period of five years.