But when the 60-year-old victim of the break-in dropped his metre-long weapon, Christopher Mark Alabacos, 35, moved in and punched him twice to the face, knocking him to the ground, where he struck him a number of times with a pole and kicked him in the head. “Dog scum, you think you’re better than me?” Alabacos, also known as Christopher Brown, yelled at the 60-year-old man.

Alabacos, who was represented by solicitor Mark Ramsland, appeared in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday via audio visual link from Parklea Correctional Centre where he pleaded guilty to reckless wounding, affray and break and enter. 

Alabacos will be sentenced in Newcastle Local Court next week. 

A balaclava in his hand, Alabacos told people in the Neil Terrace units that he was “going to do a run in on old [victim’s name]” in the days before he forced his way into the victim’s unit and stole cash and a phone, according to an agreed statement of facts.

Another resident saw Alabacos leaving the unit and called out to the victim, who went inside and saw his property was missing. 

He looked outside and saw Alabacos and Aiden James Ellison before arming himself with a metal pole and walking out to the courtyard.

Alabacos – armed with a pole – rushed towards the victim, who raised his pole in a baseball stance. But as Alabacos continued towards him, the victim dropped his weapon and Alabacos punched him to the ground.

At one point the victim rose to his feet and hit Alabacos with the pole, before he was mercilessly assaulted.

Ellison has pleaded guilty to affray after the DPP withdrew more serious charges.