A Lake Illawarra man has confessed to being paid up to $400 to video two teens bashing a man in front of his young children, a court has heard.
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The Mercury can reveal Matthew Sutton, 18, and two underage boys were hired to carry out the brazen assault as part of an ongoing dispute between the victim and his neighbour, who hired the trio with the promise of a cash payment.
Documents tendered to Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday said Sutton and the two boys, aged 15 and 17, arrived at the victim's Berkeley home on the evening of April 20 as he was preparing dinner for his children.
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The two teens, together armed with a baseball bat, walked to the front door of the home while Sutton filmed them from the front driveway.
When the victim answered the door the teens told him to come outside, to which the victim replied "who the f--- are you? F--- off d--khead," before he tried to close the door.
The victim's children, ranging in age from 2 to 11, began crying and screaming as the teens forced their way into the home and began bashing the man.
Sutton walked to the front door, still filming the assault as the younger teens forced the victim into the kitchen, causing him to trip and fall.
They then repeatedly kicked him in the head and torso as he lay dazed on the ground.
The trio fled a short time later, splitting up as they reached the end of the driveway.
The victim was able to get up from the ground and lock his front door.
He checked on his children, who were frightened but unhurt, before calling police.
Court documents said CCTV cameras mounted outside the man's home captured the arrival and departure of Sutton and the two boys, with their faces and clothing clearly visible in the footage.
Police arrested Sutton at a North Warrawong home the following day.
Sutton was taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station where he was twice interviewed by detectives.
In the second interview he confessed all, explaining that a friend had recruited him two days prior.
He told police he was aware the two teens would "beat the f--- out of" their victim.
Sutton said knew the man's children were also in the home.
He said he knew what they were doing was wrong.
Sutton said after the incident he met his friend and went to the victim's neighbour, showing him the mobile phone footage of the bashing, then deleting it.
He said he was paid about $350-$400 for his efforts.
Sutton was subsequently charged with aggravated break and enter, to which he pleaded guilty in court on Wednesday.
Sutton, who remains on bail, will be sentenced in Wollongong District Court later this year.
Sutton's case will return to court on September 17 for a sentence date to be set.
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