Former AFL father/son prospect Lucas McGhie pleads guilty to Melbourne Zoo heist
A footy legend’s son, once touted as a top AFL father-son prospect, snuck into the Melbourne Zoo after hours to feed and take selfies with exotic animals.
Melbourne City
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A former zookeeper once touted as a top AFL father-son prospect snuck into Melbourne Zoo after hours to feed and take pics of several exotic animals.
Lucas ‘Luke’ McGhie, 36, was sentenced in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday to time served — 83 days — after pleading guilty to charges including burglary, theft and trespass.
McGhie used his employee pass to sneak into the zoo with three others just after 2.30am on April 14 last year.
The former keeper — who was stood down at the time and not permitted to be at the zoo — took photos and fed the elephants, orang-utans and giraffes during the two-hour escapade.
Police later found selfies McGhie took with the animals on his phone.
McGhie also snuck into the zoo and stole expensive tools on March 24.
McGhie was on bail after he was nabbed slinging cocaine at high-end Crown Casino cocktail bar Lumina Bar on February 24.
Police observed McGhie “distributing white powder” via casino CCTV.
Investigators arrested McGhie at the casino where he was caught with 9g of cocaine in zip-lock bags, more bags containing powerful epilepsy tablets and $610 cash.
McGhie was bailed but was caught at Maribyrnong inside a stationary car with 16 ecstasy tablets, meth and a stolen bankcard on August 19.
McGhie was remanded on February 16 this year for car theft and drug charges but was bailed on March 26.
Police snared McGhie after he and an unknown associate knocked over a home under construction and fleeced power tools before fleeing in a leased GoGet van.
McGhie was on seven counts of bail for various thefts, burglary and drug possession charges when he was arrested and remanded on October 5 this year.
The court was told McGhie developed drug issues after miraculously surviving stage 4 cancer.
Unfortunately McGhie’s “spiralling” drug use cost him his Melbourne Zoo position as elephant handler/keeper-in-charge, the court heard.
McGhie, who studied animal management, launched a “relatively successful” crate refurbishment company with his dad prior to entering custody.
McGhie is the son of VFL legend Robbie ‘Bones’ McGhie, who played 146 games for Footscray, Richmond and South Melbourne in the 1970s and early 1980s.
McGhie senior and McGhie’s mum Rita supported their son in court.
The former star Western Jets’ footballer was once under serious consideration to be recruited by Richmond as a father/son selection.
Magistrate John O’Callaghan said he wouldn’t imprison McGhie for the zoo escapade but his other offences where “egregious”.
“Break into the zoo and while we’re here we feed the animals it’s a bit funny … it doesn't have the same darkness as breaking into a person’s house,” Magistrate O’Callaghan said.
The police prosecutor submitted McGhie’s offending involved a “breach of trust”.
“A zookeeper has a lot of access to things that the public doesn’t,” the prosecutor said.
Magistrate O’Callaghan ultimately spared McGhie more jail time due to the support of his parents.
Defence counsel conceded a “substantial” community correction order was in range but Magistrate O’Callaghan said rehabilitation was best served with McGhie “undertaking his own path with his parents”.
“(His parents probably have a) double-worry, what am I going to do to him, what is he going to do to himself …,” Magistrate O’Callaghan said.
“You could’ve got 12 months, you could’ve got two years, next time you probably will.
“I have a lot of faith in your parents … You are blessed to have such great parents.”
Magistrate O’Callaghan also queried why there was media interest in the case.
“Whether it’s the football or the orang-utans … the media always has an angle,” he said.
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