Simon Burcher charged after alleged attack on business associate

A prominent Sydney business owner who allegedly attacked a former colleague with a mallet in a drug-induced psychosis has briefly appeared in court ahead of a psych evaluation.

Simon Burcher. Picture: Supplied

A southern Sydney pool builder who allegedly broke into his former colleague’s home and assaulted him with a mallet is to undergo a mental health evaluation before his matter proceeds.

Burcher Pools owner Simon Burcher is facing charges of assault causing actual bodily harm and aggravated enter dwelling with intent while armed after an alarming alleged incident in Sydney’s east in 2023.

Police allege Burcher broke into his former business associate’s Bellevue Hills home and assaulted him with a mallet while in a drug-induced psychosis.

In the NSW Supreme Court last year, the Crown submitted the complainant had loaned Burcher a large sum of money as capital for his business of 23 years before the relationship “soured”.

The Crown further alleged Burcher intended to inflict “grievous bodily harm or worse” in the “premeditated and planned” attack.

“The bizarreness or weirdness does not detract from the seriousness of the offence,” he said.

“It was gravely serious and it could have ended catastrophically for the complainant.”

The Downing Centre local court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Burcher was granted bail last year and briefly faced Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday, where his solicitor asked Magistrate Daniel Covington for a six-week adjournment.

The court heard Burcher had an appointment with a forensic psychiatrist with a report to come which would need to be reviewed by the defence and prosecution before the matter could proceed.

Butcher’s solicitor said the report may either support a Mental Health Act application or result in the case being committed to the NSW District Court to be dealt with at law.

Mr Covington adjourned Burcher’s matter to the same court on June 25.

His bail conditions require him to live at his Cronulla home, abide by a curfew, abstain from illegal drugs, get a mental health plan, not contact the alleged victim nor enter the suburb of Bellevue Hill.

He can also only use one mobile phone and have $30,000 deposited as surety.