Barry Michael’s son Zac Swettenham jailed for Sunshine West aggravated burglary

The son of an Australian boxing legend is down for the count after bashing a man to a pulp during a Sunshine West burglary.

Zac Swettenham, who pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, with his dad, boxing legend Barry Michael. Picture: Mark Stewart

The trouble-plagued son of an Australian boxing legend who left a man with life-threatening injuries following a violent Sunshine West aggravated burglary has been jailed.

Zac Swettenham, 33, was sentenced in the County Court on Monday to a minimum three years’ and six months’s jail after pleading guilty to aggravated burglary and recklessly cause serious injury.

Swettenham, the unemployed son of Australian boxing legend Barry Michael, and a crony stormed their victim’s Lewis Court home on February 10 last year.

The thugs punched their victim and clobbered him with a baseball bat before fleeing with stolen items including the man’s car keys.

The victim went outside his house and called for help before a witness found the man on the ground covered in blood.

Investigators discovered blood spatter on the floor, walls and furniture inside the victim’s home.

The victim was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital and placed in an induced coma after doctors feared his airway could close over due to swelling.

Medical staff noted the victim suffered bleeding on the brain, extensive facial fractures and multiple head lacerations.

The court was told it was “possible” the victim “could have died” without intensive care intervention.

A doctor opined that the victim’s severe head injuries resulted from blunt force trauma, which caused a collection of blood under the scalp.

The victim later told police the attack had “ruined” his life.

“I don’t want any friends and I don’t want to go home, I’m scared to,” the victim said.

“My life is now changed forever, I’m so scared that they will come after me.”

Investigators established Swettenham pre-planned the assault.

“(Would you) be nterested (sic) at all in doing a little work tonight probably just have to get a little rough could be a few ounces of gold and hopefully a heap of g in it and some cash hopefully … I just know you can fight and have been around the block and don’t fear much,” Swettenham messaged an associate.

Swettenham hopes to recommence his law degree.

“Need that 600 mate. Your friend Ash is gunna get done you can either man up and go with us or just let him have it over you. Up to you bro. He won’t see it coming, though. Trust me.”

Swettenham also arranged for another associate to steal the victim’s car the day after the bloody attack.

“He did wrong to one of my mates so I’m f--king him up royally,” Swettenham said.

Swettenham was arrested at his Altona North home where police caught him with drugs on February 14.

The Koori Court heard in September Swettenham was working with Fitzroy Stars youth and commenced a law degree but his life unravelled due to drug use and mental health issues.

Swettenham told the court he got into a “bad” relationship with a woman who got him back on drugs.

“She messed my head up pretty badly,” Swettenham told the court.

“I had mental health issues … I was just trying to keep my head above water.”

Swettenham said he hoped to recommence his law degree in the future.

Swettenham was grilled by Koori Court Indigenous elders who reinforced it was “up to him” to change.

“You’ve had a better education than me, you’ve had the opportunities,” elder Uncle David said.

Uncle David told Swettenham his victim would be “looking over their shoulder for the rest of their life”.

Mr Michael, who supported his son in court during the plea hearing, thanked the court and the elders for listening to his son.

“It’s good to hear, on reflection, you want to go forward … you’ve got to stay on the right path … I think the drug ice has a lot to do with the path you went down …,” Mr Michael said.

“While you’re in there (custody) use your time for a good purpose … keep going in the right direction my son, you’ll be fine.”

Judge Scott Johns said there was a “concerning level of violence” involved in Swettenham’s offending.

Swettenham, who had spent 619 days in custody, was jailed for a maximum five years and nine months.

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