A Wellington man who helped orchestrate a violent machete home invasion in Muswellbrook has become the final offender to be jailed. Glen Knock travelled more than 250 kilometres with two relatives and two other associates to carry out the pre‑dawn raid on a Forbes Street home on March 4, 2023.
The group acted in retaliation for a dispute involving Knock’s son, Anthony Smith, over a drug purchase. According to police facts, the five men (Knock, Smith, Steven Amatto, Ian Smith and David Ryan) planned the attack during the early hours, with Ryan scouting the house shortly after 1am before knocking on the door without receiving a response.
Moments later, the remaining four men stormed the home with their faces covered and armed with bats, a machete and a pole. The assault lasted just two minutes but left four residents injured, including a woman who suffered a deep cut and a fractured arm while shielding her pet dog. Two dogs, Penny and Horse, were also slashed during the attack.
The men fled with stolen property, including key cards, a driver’s licence and cash. Hunter Valley detectives from Strike Force Blisville arrested the offenders in the months after the incident.
Knock pleaded guilty to a series of charges, including specially aggravated break and enter, reckless grievous bodily harm in company, reckless wounding and animal torture. In Newcastle District Court, he was sentenced to eight years and ten months’ jail, with a non‑parole period of four years and five months. His earliest release date is November next year.
The four other men were previously jailed, receiving sentences ranging from eight to nine years.
