Former Melbourne Zoo elephant keeper Lucas McGhie charged with assault and recklessly cause injury

A former zookeeper and son of a VFL icon who snuck into Melbourne Zoo after hours to feed and take selfies with exotic animals is back in strife.

Former Melbourne Zoo elephant keeper Lucas McGhie with Dokkoon. McGhie has again found himself in trouble with the law.

A former zookeeper and son of a VFL icon who went on an after-hours Melbourne Zoo escapade feeding and taking photos with exotic animals is back in hot water for alleged violence.

Ex-elephant keeper Lucas “Luke” McGhie, 38, fronted Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday charged with multiple offences including assault and recklessly cause injury.

It’s alleged McGhie, a former top AFL father-son prospect, assaulted a person and damaged property at Flemington in February.

McGhie made headlines after he used his employee pass to sneak into the zoo with three others just after 2.30am on April 14, 2019.

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 was sentenced to time served for the escapade and other crimes in November, 2020.

The court heard 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 has been charged with assault.

McGhie (left) with his dad Robbie ‘Bones’ McGhie and brother Lachlan in 2002.

McGhie, who studied animal management, launched a “relatively successful” crate refurbishment company with his dad.

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.

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 during sentencing he wouldn’t imprison McGhie for the zoo escapade but his other offences were “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.

Magistrate O’Callaghan ultimately spared McGhie more jail time due to the support of his parents.

McGhie, of Maribyrnong, will front court again for his latest charges at a later date.