Canberra man sentenced for home invasion to recover debt

A jury found Darin Keir, 36, guilty of aggravated burglary earlier this year, while acquitting him of aggravated robbery and dishonestly taking a car.

Keir, together with two other men, had gone to a Latham home in January 2014 intending to collect a drug debt.

One of the men, Paul Palmer, then threatened the home's five occupants with an axe handle he had picked up at the house, before driving off in a Holden Commodore belonging to one of the residents. Palmer pleaded guilty earlier this year.

Justice Richard Refshauge said that while Keir had entered the home, he had not participated in either the threats or taking the car, and had even encouraged the others to leave.

Justice Refshauge sentenced Keir to 18 months imprisonment. He said he would have imposed a non-parole period of nine months, but Keir had been in custody since last October.

He released Keir on a two-year good behaviour order. He placed conditions on the order, including that Keir not take illegal drugs and take urine tests when required.

Justice Refshauge also cancelled a previous good behaviour order that related to an assault.

Following the sentence, Justice Refshauge spoke directly to Keir, saying this was his chance to "do something useful" as a carpenter, in which he was trained.

He warned Keir against alcohol and drugs, suggesting that in Keir's case the former often led to the latter, and that if caught he would likely face more time in prison.

Before being released, Keir must apply for and be granted bail.