Ibrahim El-Sayah pleads guilty after drive-by shooting at Akkar pastry shop in Reservoir

A judge has warned a Broadmeadows dad who admitted to being behind the wheel during a drive-by shooting that his “gangster lifestyle” could see him face serious jail time.

Ibrahim Al-Sayah has denied being a “gangster” after drive-by shooting. Picture: David Crosling

A judge has told a man involved in drive-by shooting in Reservoir he better quit his “gangster lifestyle” if he wants to dodge jail time.

Ibrahim “Ibby” El-Sayah, 28, who was shot in the leg earlier this year, hobbled out of the County Court on crutches on Wednesday after admitting to being behind the wheel during a drive-by shooting in Melbourne’s north.

Police allege one of El-Sayah’s associates fired eight bullets at the Akkar pastry shop in Reservoir on July 12, 2020, as part of a violent fued between Middle Eastern crime groups.

Outside court, El-Sayah - who did not fire any shots during the incident - denied being a “gangster” and said he was committed to keeping out of trouble.

He was originally facing more than 60 charges relating to three drive-by shootings in Melbourne’s north in 2020 but pleaded guilty to a single count of using a loaded firearm in a public place.

Ibrahim Al-Sayah pleaded guilty to one charge of using a loaded firearm in a public place at the County Court of Victoria on Wednesday. Picture: David Crosling

The Broadmeadows dad was shot in the leg during a dispute earlier this year. Picture: David Crosling

Judge Scott Johns told the pre-sentence hearing El-Sayah’s behaviour gave him “the appearance of someone who thought he was a bit of a gangster”.

He was previously found “in a car asleep with a bag of drugs beside him”, he noted.

But El-Sayah’s lawyer Rob Melasecca denied he was a gangster, arguing that his client had cleaned up his act.

He said the Broadmeadows man would struggle behind bars due to the serious leg injury he sustained after being shot on February 10 this year while on bail.

The Herald Sun understands the shooting occurred during a dispute at a property in Coolaroo, west of Thomastown.

Mr Melasecca told the court his client was placed into an induced coma and required six surgeries after some “hero” shot him for a chance at “glory”.

“He nearly did die. He wasn’t expecting to make it through,” he said.

But Judge Johns clapped back, saying El-Sayah seemed to be “cut from the same cloth” as his shooter.

“He was at the wheel where some other ‘hero’ was shooting a building,” he said.

“I do sincerely hope that he deeply regrets ever being attracted to the drug lifestyle and gangster lifestyle.”

El-Sayah and his wife Yasemin Ercan – who police allege was sitting in the back seat during the shootings – were both granted bail but have been barred from contacting one another by the court.

Mr Melasecca said his client just wanted to be reunited with his wife, who is his “childhood sweetheart”, and his young daughter, who is currently living with Ms Ercan’s parents.

He said the young dad has been trying to “keep off the drugs but struggles”, noting that he has a “horrendous drug history”.

“He is a very loveable young man. He is very appreciative of the opportunities he has been given,” he told the court.

“He’s been taking it on the chin.”

Judge Johns accepted that El-Sayah was trying to turn his life around when the charges were laid in December 2021 but said the crim needed to understand there are consequences for his actions.

“Things come home to roost,” he said.

The prosecution called the incident “serious offending”, adding that it could not be characterised as “spontaneous”.

Judge Johns said El-Sayah’s guilty plea was “significant” but wanted to see if he could stay out of trouble for another few weeks before he handed down his decision.

El-Sayah will be sentenced in the County Court on August 17.