Scott Perry fronts court for plea hearing following home invasion trial

A Corio grandfather found guilty of posing as a police officer during a “frightening” home invasion in Whittington has a “significant criminal history” spanning two states, a court has heard.

Scott Perry was found guilty of his involvement in a “terrifying” home invasion in Whittington in March 2023.

A Corio grandfather found guilty of posing as a police officer during a “frightening” home invasion in Whittington has a “significant criminal history” spanning two states, a court has heard.

Scott Perry, 49, was earlier this month found guilty of 14 charges, being one count of home invasion, seven counts of theft and six counts of false imprisonment, following an eleven-day criminal trial in the County Court at Geelong.

Perry appeared via videolink for a plea hearing on Wednesday.

Four of the charges related to the robbery of two intellectually disabled brothers on Solar Dr at about 8am on March 20, 2023, in what court heard was a “rehearsal”.

Moments later, Perry, along with his son, Zach, and two other offenders – Ricky Wilson and Abynei Lacey – pretended to be detectives raiding an Orbit Dr family’s home.

They ransacked the home and stole a cannabis crop the family patriarch was growing at the property, along with cash, Nike shoes, jewellery and two cars owned by a daughter of the family.

Two victim impact statements were read to the court by prosecutor Andrew Grant, provided by the daughter and her father.

The man said the incident had left him broken, stripped his quality of life and caused a “debilitating amount of stress and anxiety”.

He said he struggled to function, felt “irrational, paranoid, suicidal and self-destructive”, and even with medication suffered severe bouts of depression, nightmares, feelings of guilt and headaches.

“What this person has done is destroyed my life,” the man wrote.

Mr Perry’s lawyer, barrister Hayden Rattray, conceded the offending was very serious, but told the court the fact the gang posed as police officers actually mitigated some “risks” associated with home invasions, such as excessive violence.

Judge Gerard Mullaly wasn’t convinced, noting the offenders used “the full authority of the state” by impersonating police, and doing so was arguably more grave than “some angry, miffed criminal kicking in the door”.

Mr Rattray told the court that Mr Perry’s partner was left with “a pretty unenviable task” of caring for six children with Mr Perry behind bars, and while the circumstances may not meet the threshold of being exceptional, prison would be more onerous for Perry knowing his partner was “out there with this hardship”.

Submissions were also made during the hearing regarding parity with the sentences imposed on Mr Perry’s co-offenders.

Crown prosecutor Andrew Grant told the court the incident was “a terrifying experience of the victims” and of a kind that threatens the wider community’s sense of safety.

Mr Grant argued protection of the community “looms” as a key sentencing consideration when an offender has a history “of the kind Mr Perry has”.

Perry had a “significant criminal history” in Victoria, the court heard, along with a “lengthy” rap sheet in South Australia – including a 2003 conviction for aggravated criminal trespass of a residence.

Mr Grant said this history was a “feature of some difference”, when comparing Perry’s circumstances to that of his son or Ricky Wilson.

Perry was also found guilty of an additional six charges, as Wilson and the younger Perry had not pleaded to false imprisonment.

“There is a need to reflect the fact that so many people were dealt with that way on that day,” Mr Grant said.

Perry will be sentenced on Monday.

Originally published as Scott Perry fronts court for plea hearing following home invasion trial