Anthony Lloyd, who threw acid on alleged murder victim Geoffrey McLean, says he was ‘besotted’ with woman charged over his death

The man who threw acid on Geoffrey McLean three months before his alleged murder says he was “besotted” with Mr McLean’s partner – who is charged over the death.

The man who threw acid over Geoffrey McLean, three months before his alleged murder, says he was besotted with the woman charged with the killing – and has blamed her for his crime.

Anthony James Lloyd, 63, has pleaded guilty to one aggravated count of causing serious harm with intent – he is not charged with Mr McLean’s alleged murder.

On Thursday, Lloyd told the District Court he had committed the crime – the first of his entire life – because Sheree May Glastonbury had “harangued” him into taking action against Mr McLean for her.

John Lyons, for Lloyd, told the court his client was in an on-off relationship with Ms Glastonbury at the same time as she was living as Mr McLean’s partner.

“There was this woman, Sheree Glastonbury, who my client had known for nine years and he was besotted with her for the full nine years,” he said.

“He had never broken it off, whenever she wanted something he would do it.

“At least three months before this she kept telling him that Mr McLean was doing despicable things to her and harangued him.

“He was at Bunnings buying some acid in relation to some welding and she rang him at that very moment... when she heard what he was doing, said he should get the acid and throw it on Mr McLean.

Sheree May Glastonbury, right, is charged with murdering her partner Geoffrey McLean.

“He cannot understand why, after living such a law-abiding life, he would have done it … his life at that time was Sheree Glastonbury and whatever she wanted.”

The charge against Lloyd arises from an incident at Leicester Grove, Andrews Farm, on May 10 last year, when Mr McLean was doused with a mixture of petrol and hydrochloric acid.

Six months later, in an unrelated incident, Mr McLean’s partial remains were found in a wheelie bin on a vacant lot.

In March, Ms Glastonbury and another man, Mark John Murphy, were charged with having murdered Mr McLean in August 2022.

Mark John Murphy is accused of murdering Geoffrey McLean. Picture: 9News

Both were further charged with committing acts of violence against Mr McLean on April 10 and 14, 2022, while Ms Glastonbury was also accused of taking part in the May 10 attack.

Mr Murphy’s twin brother, Peter, and his partner Lynette Sexton, have been charged with assisting an offender in relation to the murder allegation.

Ms Glastonbury, the Murphy brothers and Ms Sexton have yet to enter pleas to the charges against them and will next face court in June.

On Thursday, Mr Lyons said the relationship between Lloyd and Ms Glastonbury was “volatile” and his client claimed she had been abusive toward him at times.

He said Lloyd was deeply remorseful and had not intended to damage Mr McLean’s face in the attack, but the acid had “splashed up” on impact.

In her victim impact statement, Mr McLean’s sister Sonya told the court her brother had been left disfigured by the incident.

She said he had withdrawn from his family, including his daughter, and tried not to see them because he was broken by and ashamed of his injuries.

Geoffrey McLean’s car was burnt out in an arson attack. Picture: SA Police

Prosecutors asked the court to approach Lloyd’s explanation with caution, asking for additional time to discuss it with investigating officers.

They said evidence gathered so far supported “a pre-existing relationship” between Lloyd and Ms Glastonbury, but provided no proof she had “harangued” him.

They said they had agreed to withdraw allegations Lloyd attacked Mr McLean with a log splitter and attempted to set him on fire with an improvised flamethrower as a result of a plea-bargain deal.

However, they said those incidents still provided context to the severity of the charge that remained.

Lloyd should be jailed for his offending, they said, dubbing it one of the more serious examples of the offence.

Judge Joanne Tracy remanded Lloyd in custody for sentencing next month.