‘Financial crisis’ behind jailed Dees fan’s Perth jaunt

The Range Rover-driving Demons fan who famously snuck into Perth for the grand final has blamed “financial hardship” for his ill-fated jaunt.

Jailed Demons fan and grand final border-hopper ­Hayden Burbank has bemoaned his pandemic-induced financial hardship but failed to mention he lashed out on a $4.8m Toorak home this year.

The luxury two-storey pad — complete with pool — combined with Burbank’s offer to throw an all-expenses party for the Melbourne Football Club’s players, wives and officials at his exclusive restaurant-cocktail bar, Morris Jones, contradicts his pleas to a Perth court he is in the grips of a Covid-19 “financial crisis”.

The Range Rover-driving Burbank is the sole owner of the Ross St property, which he bought in June after moving out of his Mount St, Prahran, abode in March.

Burbank, 49, and his grand final fugitive mate, financial planner Mark Babbage, 38, who had been under 23-hour lockdown in Perth’s Hakea Prison, may appeal their 10-month jail terms. As it stands, they will serve three months with the rest suspended.

Hayden Burbank paid $4.8m for the Ross St home in June.

The Morris Jones owner offered to host a party at his lavish pad for Demons players, wives and officials.

Both men pleaded guilty to disobeying WA’s strict Covid-19 laws and fraud charges at Perth Magistrates’ Court this week.

They are expected to be transferred to a regional WA prison, where they will spend Christmas behind bars.

“He’s worried, and feels he’s vulnerable,” Burbank’s lawyer Andrew Tehan said.

Mr Tehan told the Perth court the backstory to Burbank’s behaviour had been a hellish year in which he was dealing with a financial crisis after being forced to keep his cocktail bar, Morris Jones, shut for 225 days.

Apart from pleading Burbank was under “significant financial pressure’’, his lawyer argued that during Melbourne’s harsh lockdown the 49-year-old had only had ­contact with his mother, ailing father and an unnamed ­“bubble buddy’’.

The former Melbourne and Carey Grammar student was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, ADHD and depression in 2016, the court was told.

“The mental toll of lockdown has been significant,” Mr Tehan said.

Burbank told a Perth court he was under “significant financial pressure”.

A medical report tendered to the court said Burbank’s “state of narrow hyperfocus” – an offshoot of his ADHD – may well have contributed to his decision to travel to WA.

The court also heard Burbank had stopped seeing a psychiatrist due to the financial strain of the pandemic, which was costing him $550 a session.

In the days after pulling off their grand final mission, Burbank and Babbage bunkered down at an Airbnb in Bunker Bay, an exclusive spot south of Perth.

After learning they were wanted by police they left their accommodation and checked into the Pullman Bunker Bay Resort until their arrests on September 28.

It is believed Burbank’s WA-based girlfriend rendezvoused with the pair in Darwin before they travelled together to Perth on September 22.

Babbage’s lawyer Seamus Rafferty admitted his client’s actions were selfish and an “appalling decision”.

Babbage’s name appeared on an NT vehicle registration document and ANZ bank statement with an NT address, both of which are said to be forgeries.

An NT residency agreement, with both names on, was also used.

Legal experts have told the Herald Sun Burbank and Babbage could face professional ruin because of the convictions.

On Thursday, the Herald Sun revealed Burbank had wanted to throw a free party for the Melbourne Football Club.

Friend and former nightclub king Glenn Waterson told the Herald Sun: “Hayden wrote to the club and said, ‘We don’t know when we can open, but I would love players, wives, their families and officials to celebrate with me, on the house, free of charge.”

Burbank opened his venue in 2012 after a career in real estate.

But since his arrest, staff at his restaurant have been fielding calls from angry patrons.

Both he and Babbage are due to appear in an NT court on November 16, charged with knowingly forging documents, criminal deception, giving false or misleading information and contravening emergency declaration.

Originally published as ‘Financial crisis’ behind jailed Dees fan’s Perth jaunt