Zachary Perry and Ricky Wilson plead guilty over fake cop home invasion

The father of the sole surviving child of a horror Corio shed fire that claimed the lives of three kids has fronted court over a home invasion.

Zachary Perry fronted the County Court over a Whittington home invasion. Picture: supplied

The father of the sole surviving child of a horror Corio shed fire that claimed the lives of three kids has fronted court over a Whittington home invasion.

Zachary Perry, 29, appeared in the County Court at Melbourne on Friday, alongside co-accused Ricky Wilson, 39, with both men having earlier pleaded guilty to charges including home invasion, theft and impersonating police officers.

The court heard that on March 20 last year, four offenders robbed a Whittington family by pretending to be police executing a search warrant on the house.

They ransacked the house, taking off with about $9000 cash, six to eight cannabis plants, jewellery, Nike shoes and two cars.

Immediately prior to the home invasion, the same group robbed two intellectually disabled brothers walking along Solar Dr.

One of the other offenders, Abynei Lacey, was jailed in July for her part in the robbery.

In a victim impact statement one of the family members described how the emotional, financial and social impact of the crime “broke” her.

She described the terror the “traumatic” robbery brought her, how she felt violated, “angry and devastated” after the thieves ransacked her bedroom and stole her prized cars.

Perry’s lawyer, Liliana Dubroja, submitted prison was onerous for Perry after his 7-year-old daughter, Mavis McGregor-Perry, survived a tragic shed fire in Corio in October last year that claimed the lives of her three siblings.

Corio fire victims Mavis McGregor-Perry, (left), Saige, Ashlynn and Isaac McGregor. Picture: Supplied

Mavis is currently residing with a family member and receiving skin-grafts at a “weekly rate”, the court heard, a situation that was a burden for the incarcerated Perry.

Ms Dubroja conceded the seriousness of the home invasion and the level of planning and sophistication that went into it.

The court heard the idea was concocted after Perry saw cannabis in the Whittington home’s backyard.

Ms Dubroja told the court Perry grew up in the care of his grandparents, in a “safe and loving home”, but found schooling difficult and was introduced to drugs in his late-teens.

Perry was using a “high level” of ice daily at the time of the offending, but had shown a “high degree of willingness” to engage in rehabilitative treatment while in custody.

Like Perry, Wilson had a longstanding drug abuse problem and lengthy criminal record, the court was told.

His lawyer, David Rofe, said Wilson had a deprived background and been diagnosed with PTSD, which reduced his moral culpability – a fact accepted by the prosecution.

Mr Rofe said Wilson was working, had been sober “for a substantial amount of time” and was hoping to move to Terang upon release.

Perry and Wilson will be sentenced on October 17.

Originally published as Zachary Perry and Ricky Wilson plead guilty over fake cop home invasion