Matthew John Cable avoids prison after facilitating brutal assault on brother

A Perth man has avoided prison after “facilitating” an assault on his brother who he lent $40,000 to help pay off his drug debt.

Matthew John Cable, 26, appeared in Bunbury Magistrate’s Court on Monday for sentencing on his charge of unlawful assault causing bodily harm with circumstances of aggravation.

On the evening of April 9, 2021, Cable and two other unknown men, who the victim owed money too, entered the victim’s home where inside he and his two children were sleeping.

In an attempt to talk matters through, the group sat at the victim’s kitchen table before taking a violent turn.

The two other men proceeded to hit the victim over the right of his head, causing him to fall to the ground.

While on the ground, the men proceeded to kicked the victim in his ribs and strike him with a metal broom handle so hard it folded in two places before dragging him to the front door of the property.

The victim was able to escape by running from his home and jumping the property’s back fence.

Despite engaging in victim offender mitigation, it was submitted to the court the victim wanted “nothing to do with” his brother following the incident.

It was also submitted, the victim had attempted suicide in the months leading up to the incident, with Cable lending him the money to pay off his debts in a show of support.

Cable told the court the two assailants were unknown to both himself and the victim, claiming they had sought him out knowing he was related to his brother.

Magistrate Linda Keane handed down a seven month prison sentence suspended for 12 months, saying Cable “should’ve known” what would happen, describing it as an “extraordinarily terrifying” situation for the victim.

“I think the saying you lie with dogs you get fleas can be applied to this situation,” she said.

“There are matters before the court where people have been killed due to drug debt ... you must have known (the victim) was in trouble.

“(the assault) must have been within contemplation ... I don’t think much thought went into any of this ... that’s the problem.”