NL man with autism who broke into neighbour's home and beat occupant with crowbar gets two years house arrest

A Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s man who broke into a neighbour’s house in the middle of the night and beat a man in bed with a crowbar has been sentenced to two years’ house arrest.

With credit for the time he spent on remand, Noah Peddle has 412 days left to serve.

Peddle, 20, pleaded guilty to breaking and entering with the intent to commit a crime, as well as assault with a weapon.

Making their submissions in September, Crown and defence lawyers agreed house arrest was appropriate for Peddle, whom prosecutor Kellie Cullihall told the court is “severely autistic.”

A two-year conditional sentence order, which Peddle will serve under rules and supervision at home instead of behind bars, balances his personal circumstances with public protection, she argued.

Defence lawyer Kathy Moulton told the court Peddle is not able to live independently but knows right from wrong and recognizes the nature of his actions.

According to an agreed statement of facts, Peddle broke into a neighbour’s home through the garage in January 2025.

Inside, a man — a visiting friend of the homeowners — was woken by a noise and saw a person in a hoodie standing outside his slightly open bedroom door. Thinking it was his friend, he called out.

The intruder then came into the room and struck him several times with a crowbar as the man tried to defend himself with a pillow.

One of the homeowners woke up and came into the bedroom, flicking on the light. He asked the intruder what he was doing.

“Looking for money,” Peddle replied.

The homeowner told Peddle to come downstairs and sit down to wait for police, which he did.

When the homeowner asked why he had chosen the home, Peddle replied, “Because I can see your house.”

Peddle later told a Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officer he had done it “because it was easy. I wanted money. I like having money.”

Peddle remained in jail for about seven months before he was released on bail.

In an impact statement presented at Peddle’s sentencing hearing, the victim described bruises and swelling to his hands after the assault and said he has been unable to sleep soundly ever since, often waking up to check his house locks.

The homeowners also provided statements, describing the event as harrowing and noting their houseguest had been sleeping in a bedroom that’s normally occupied by one of their young children.

They described feeling unsafe in their home, particularly since Peddle lives nearby, and said the crime had forever changed their family.

“If he didn’t have a disability, we wouldn’t be having this conversation,” the judge said at Peddle’s sentencing hearing, regarding the suggestion of house arrest for the crimes.

He sentenced Peddle on Friday, Oct. 9.

After completing his non-custodial sentence, Peddle — whom the court heard will be moving from the neighbourhood into an assisted living arrangement — will serve three years of supervised probation.

Walsh also ordered Peddle to submit a DNA sample to a police database, banned him from weapons, and ordered him to pay restitution to the homeowners for damage to their garage door.