Abynei Lacey, Ricky Wilson charged after alleged Whittington home invasion

A man, charged in relation to a police raid on a drug house, could be called to give evidence against Corio mum Abynei Lacey who is accused of a home invasion.

Abynei Lacey, who also goes by Abney Lacey, faced the Geelong Magistrates Court on Tuesday in relation to an alleged home invasion. Picture: Facebook.

A Geelong man and woman accused of a home invasion in Whittington and impersonating police are fighting charges against them.

Abynei Lacey and Ricky Wilson, both in their 20s, faced the Geelong Magistrates Court on Tuesday, each charged with six counts of false imprisonment.

Ms Lacey, a mother of one who goes by Abney, is also charged with aggravated burglary, criminal damage, theft, threatening to destroy or damage property, stealing a vehicle, and committing an indictable offence while on bail.

Other charges against Mr Wilson include three counts of theft and three counts of stealing a vehicle.

The strength of evidence against Ms Lacey, Mr Wilson and two others accused of the home invasion, will be tested during a hearing in November.

Barrister Brad Hardisty, who appeared for the Office of Public Prosecutions in court on Tuesday, said the intruders entered the Whittington home to remove possessions from it.

The court heard police searched the home for cannabis after the alleged home invasion, which resulted in one occupant – who could be called to give evidence against Ms Lacey – being charged with drug-related offences.

Charges against Mr Wilson include cannabis and ice possession.

Ms Lacey’s lawyer, David Barrese, said drug use in the Whittington house should be part of considerations when judging the credibility of witness accounts regarding the alleged home invasion.

Lawyers for Ms Lacey and Mr Wilson want to cross examine occupants of the Whittington house, including a 17-year-old, to test how their statements to police about the incident compare to CCTV footage.

Mr Barrese said there were inconsistencies between some statements and the vision.

He said a “drunken incident” prior to the alleged home invasion was not the reason for the alleged offending.

Mr Wilson’s lawyer told the court identification of his client at the scene of the home invasion was “in issue”.

The Geelong Advertiser applied for details of the alleged crimes but the application was not heard on Tuesday. The case is due to return to court on August 10.

On that date Magistrate Simon Guthrie is due to decide if some people who have given police statements about the alleged home invasion can be called to give evidence in court.

“I am not going to rush to make a decision off the cuff,” Mr Guthrie told the court on Tuesday.

“I really need to sit down and go through (the material before court). I need to have a good look at it. It just makes perfect sense (to do that).”

Originally published as Abynei Lacey, Ricky Wilson charged after alleged Whittington home invasion