A former Western Australian police officer and competitive powerlifter has been sentenced to more than six years behind bars for impersonating a police officer during a terrifying aggravated burglary where he planned to mutilate a victim.
A Terrifying Home Invasion in Canning Vale
Bradley Leslie Humble, 43, was found guilty by a jury of impersonating a police officer and aggravated burglary for his role in the incident on September 9, 2022. The father-of-four, along with an accomplice, Aaron Rhys Hart, entered the Canning Vale home of Sabah al-Salem by showing a fake search warrant while wearing a cap, facemask and gloves.
Humble, a former constable, carried a black bag containing a hatchet and black cable ties into the property. He later told police his intention was to "restrain, chop and leave". The court heard the grisly plan was to cut out the victim's tongue or fingers for a $25,000 cash reward.
A Deal for Violence That Unravelled
District Court Judge Charlotte Wallace detailed how Humble had been recruited for the job by a powerlifting friend, Minh Duy Nguyen, who had a violent history with Mr al-Salem. The initial offer of $10,000 was rejected by Humble, but he later accepted when the price increased to $25,000.
"In exchange, Mr Nguyen requested that you cut out the victim’s tongue at the very least, and other things were discussed, including cutting off the victim’s fingers and hands," Judge Wallace told Humble during sentencing.
The attack did not proceed because Mr al-Salem began shouting "mafia" when Humble produced the cable ties, causing the pair to flee. At trial, Humble claimed he had gone to the house to warn the victim, not harm him, but Judge Wallace said the jury rightly rejected this account, noting Humble's "prolific and ongoing lies".
A Troubled History and Final Reckoning
The court was reminded of Humble's chequered past with the WA Police Force. He served for four years before being sacked in 2009 for unlawfully using a restricted computer system to access a person's private information. He then used that data to follow the individual and issue a bogus traffic infringement.
Judge Wallace had no doubt about Humble's violent intent on the day of the burglary. "I therefore find... that you were there to inflict grievous bodily harm on the victim," she stated. Humble was sentenced to six years and eight months in prison and will be eligible for parole after serving four years and eight months.
His co-offender, Aaron Rhys Hart, has already been sentenced to 10 months in jail for his role in impersonating an officer. A charge of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence against Minh Duy Nguyen was previously dismissed for having no case to answer.
