A speech pathologist who was allegedly threatened by her ex-partner at knife-point inside her home was just hours away from facing him in court after taking out an AVO.
Lauren Salamakis, 35, and her three children were at the $1.85m Kellyville home, in Sydney’s north-west, around 2.30am on Tuesday when Fraser Thomson, 41, allegedly broke into the property with a knife.
Police were called to the quiet suburban street, where they found Thomson, 41, with serious lacerations to his forearms and Ms Salamakis’ estranged husband Paul, 39, suffering from cuts to his hands.
The men were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to Westmead Hospital, both in a stable condition, where Thomson was kept under police guard.
Lauren Salamakis, 35, (pictured) was embroiled in a horrifying alleged break and enter on Tuesday
The 41-year-old was released around 12.30pm on Tuesday and taken to Castle Hill police station, where he is assisting officers with their investigation.
Ms Salamakis and the three children were shaken, but are unharmed, police said.
Daily Mail Australia can reveal Thomson was due to front Parramatta Local Court on Tuesday for a number of charges, including for an AVO, which was taken out just two weeks ago to protect Ms Salamakis.
However, court records reveal their relationship has been tumultuous for some time, with Ms Salamakis also previously taking out an AVO against Thomson in January 2021.
Daily Mail Australia understands Mr Salamakis was present at the property at the time of the alleged break in and had been staying at his estranged wife’s home for the past several weeks.
Neighbours said they had notice Mr Salamakis’ black Ford Ranger parked in the driveway on Monday night.
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia from hospital on Tuesday, Mr Salamakis said he is recovering and doing okay given the circumstances.
He said his morning has been spent taking calls and asked for privacy at this time, before thanking the reporter for reaching out.
Fraser Thomson, 41, is assisting police officers after allegedly breaking into the home
Paul Salamakis, 35, (pictured) suffered injuries to his hands and was taken to hospital
Ms Salamakis, who has a background in teaching, runs a speech pathology business in Sydney’s northwest.
According to her business website, she has ‘extensive experience working in school-based settings with school aged children, their families and teachers on a variety of communication difficulties’.
Her areas of interest include helping teachers support children in the context of the classroom and early intervention and supporting children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Mr Salamakis is the General Manager of two The Coffee Club stores, which are owned by his mother and sister.
In 2016, he made headlines after rallying to support a family devastated by cancer while he was working at a McDonalds store in Mount Druitt.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Superintendent Gary Bachelor said items found in a backpack belonging to Thomson suggest his attendance at the residence was allegedly premeditated.
‘We’re alleging that the male … was going to do harm to the people at that address,’ the superintendent said.
Superintendent Bachelor said it was incredibly ‘traumatic’ and ‘distressing’ that several young children were inside the home at the time of the alleged break and enter.
Officers are investigating if the terrifying incident in north-western Sydney
A man in a bloody shirt was seen being loaded into the back of a police vehicle
‘One of the males is known to police for a number of reasons,’ he said.
‘An alleged offender attending an address like this is extremely serious.’
Police have canvassed the surrounding streets and obtained CCTV and witness accounts.
Channel Nine has reported that neighbours say this is not an isolated incident, that police have attended the address in Kellyville a number of times in recent weeks.
Neighbours said they are terrified with what they have seen overnight.
‘I have been living here for five years, really peaceful street. So this is really shocking,’ one man said.
A crime scene has been established and inquiries are continuing, with uniformed police and plain clothed detectives inside the property along with forensic teams.
Officers were seen taking statements from residents in the quiet cul-de-sac, where homes cost upwards of $1million.
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