A Perth man who forcibly removed an eight-year-old boy from his bed during a terrifying home invasion, telling the child "Stay here or I'll kill you", has been sentenced to prison.
The Terrifying Nighttime Abduction
In the early hours of a morning in October 2022, Shane Della-Vedova broke into a home in the Perth suburb of Wattle Grove. The 43-year-old intruder entered the child's bedroom, where the young boy was sleeping, and physically carried him from the house.
The court heard the child was taken to a nearby park. It was there that Della-Vedova issued the chilling threat to the frightened boy, ordering him to stay put. The ordeal lasted for a period before the abductor eventually returned the child to his home street.
A Troubled History and Mental Health Considerations
During sentencing in the Western Australia District Court, details of Della-Vedova's significant mental health struggles were presented. He had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and had a history of substance abuse.
Judge Belinda Lonsdale acknowledged these conditions, noting the offender was experiencing a psychotic episode at the time of the crime and was not taking his prescribed medication. However, she emphasised that this did not excuse the gravity of his actions against a vulnerable child.
The judge stated the crime had a "significant and ongoing impact" on the young victim and his family, who now live in constant fear.
Court Sentencing and Condemnation
Shane Della-Vedova was ultimately sentenced to three years and four months in prison. He will be eligible for parole after serving 20 months of his term.
Judge Lonsdale condemned the actions, describing the abduction as a "serious example of the offence of deprivation of liberty". She highlighted the profound vulnerability of the victim, who was targeted in his own home—a place where he should have felt safest.
The court considered the man's guilty plea and his complex mental health background as mitigating factors. However, the primary need for community protection and just punishment for the traumatic event was deemed paramount.
This case serves as a distressing reminder of the lasting trauma inflicted by crimes against children and the complex interplay between criminal responsibility and mental health in the justice system.
