Three men face sentencing for failed sledgehammer home invasion
Marcus Tekorona, Mathew Mullin and Joshua Estavilla pleaded guilty to a failed sledgehammer home invasion in Belmont North in February 2025.
Three men appeared at Newcastle District Court on Wednesday for sentencing for a failed home invasion at Belmont North, near Lake Macquarie. On February 23, 2025, the trio could not get past the front gate, then repeatedly tried to smash through the front door with a sledgehammer.
The trio splintered wood and shattered glass but failed to enter. The homeowner, a double amputee, was woken by a security alarm and called triple zero after seeing movement on CCTV.
During the chaos, one man was shot and driven to hospital. All three pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated break-and-enter and steal.
They have been in custody since their arrests in March 2025. Judge Timothy Gartelmann will hand down sentences later this week.
- February 23, 2025, around 1.40am
- Invasion date
- Belmont North, near Lake Macquarie
- Location
- March 2025, all in custody since then
- Arrests
Why it mattersThe case shows how even carefully planned crimes can fail, and demonstrates the legal consequences of violent home invasions.
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