Riversdale home invasion: Major update in alleged attack on Perth mum

A teenager has been charged for allegedly hitting a mother with a sledgehammer during an attempted robbery.

Police allege a 15-year-old boy broke into the home of mother-of-two Kristy Dunlop in Riversdale, in Perth’s inner east, on Good Friday.

He allegedly tried to steal a laptop before Ms Dunlop, 55, intervened.

The pair struggled before the teenager allegedly hit her in the head with a sledgehammer, leaving her needing six staples.

He has been charged with aggravated burglary and aggravated armed robbery and will appear in court today.

Ms Dunlop told 9News her six-year-old son, who is terrified of strangers in the house, “literally witnessed his worst nightmare”.

Dunlop said she and her husband accidentally left the garage door open when they got home.

They did not realize the door was open and, while putting her six-year-old son to bed, Mrs Dunlop heard a noise in the kitchen.

A neighbor’s CCTV footage allegedly captured a person entering the house around 9:15 p.m.

As Ms Dunlop went to investigate she saw a person allegedly taking her laptop.

“I went out and confronted him and grabbed him, he kind of screamed to let him go,” Mrs Dunlop said.

“We fought down the hallway, he dropped my laptop.”

Police allege that after a struggle, the boy dealt him a “massive blow to the head” with a sledgehammer.

He also allegedly stole a mobile phone and car keys after Mrs Dunlop’s husband chased him out of the house.

“I think I’m lucky actually, it could have been a lot worse. It could have been my children,” Mrs Dunlop said.

“My six-year-old son, who has trouble sleeping because he’s afraid of someone breaking into the house or breaking into it, has now literally witnessed his worst nightmare and that’s really difficult as a parent.”