A man who broke into a house in Canberra last year, terrifying two young women, assaulting and confining them before fleeing, has been sentenced to nine years in jail.
James March, 36, pleaded guilty to seven charges including burglary, assault causing grievous bodily harm, forcible confinement and making threats.
The court heard he had broken in through a bathroom window at a home in the suburb of Ainslie, before going into the room of one of the women and laying on top of her in her bed.
March made a comment, asking the woman: "Why didn't you answer your phone?"
When she called for help he told her housemate: "It's okay, it's okay. Nothing is wrong."
The two women asked March to leave, one even getting the front door key to let him out. But he resisted, grabbing each by the hair and forcing their faces down.
One woman tried to stab him in the leg with the key as they both fought back.
March told the women there was a hit on the house, but he must have had the wrong address, or that the hit was on whoever lived there before them.
He also told the women if they went to police he would come after them.
March only left the house after forcing the women to shower, to remove any of his fingerprints or DNA.
He was arrested weeks later in Sydney where he was living.
The court heard he expressed regret to police at the time.
"The two girls did not deserve what happened," March said.
Both women told the court of the difficulties they had had with feeling safe or going out in the months since.
Justice Chrissa Loukas-Karlsson said she rejected March's explanation that he was looking for a 24-year-old man who he thought had sold drugs to his daughter.
"It's a woman's worst nightmare to have a man come into her room at night while she sleeps," she said.
She addressed March directly to impress on him the seriousness of the crime.
"The offences you have committed, as you know, are very serious matters," Justice Loukas-Karlson said.
"The sentence as you know must be a significant period of imprisonment.
"You will have a lot to think about over the next [few] years. You must pay your debt to society."
March has been given a non-parole period of six years. He will be eligible for parole in 2028.
