Abynei Lacey jailed over role in fake cop home invasion plot

A judge has found a Geelong mum who posed as a cop during a bizarre crime spree has good prospects of rehabilitation, and was roped into the plot by her then-boyfriend.

Abynei Lacey Picture: Facebook

A drug-addicted Geelong mum was roped into a scheme to pose as police during a home invasion by her then-boyfriend, a court heard.

Abynei Lacey, 26, appeared in Melbourne County Court on Friday via videolink from Dame Phyllis Frost Correctional Centre, and was sentenced by Judge Sandra Davis to 15 months in prison, with a non-parole period of 10 months.

However, Lacey’s release is imminent, as she has already served 480 days in prison.

Lacey, who pleaded guilty earlier this year to a charge of home invasion and two counts each of theft and impersonating police officers, displayed little emotion as Judge Davis began her sentencing remarks.

Judge Davis told the court Lacey had an “extensive history of trauma” and was made to go along with the fake cop plot by her then-boyfriend.

Lacey was part of a group that committed two robberies on March 30, 2023 – first on two brothers on Solar Dr, Whittington.

Fifteen minutes later, the group pretended to execute a search warrant on a home on Orbit Dr, seizing items.

Lacey pretended to be on the phone to other police officers during the fake raid, and referred to her co-offenders as “detective”.

During both incidents, Lacey wore blue latex gloves and semi-professional attire, to imitate police officers.

The court heard Lacey had a troubled upbringing and developed substance abuse issues to cope.

Lacey was consuming a cocktail of ice, GHB and cannabis daily at the time of the raid, and was dependent on her then-partner who supplied her with drugs.

Judge Davis told the court Lacey had good prospects of rehabilitation, and concluded further long-term imprisonment would delay her receiving the treatment she needed.

The court heard the prosecution had argued that Lacey played an active role in the second incident, which was a “relatively serious” example of home invasion.

The prosecution conceded her drug use was at the core of the offending.

The defence, meanwhile, argued that while the offending comprised two separate incidents, they happened close in time on the one morning.

Lacey had expressed remorse for her crimes and sympathy towards the victims, both to psychologists and prison officers, and was developing insight into the relationship between her drug use and offending, the court heard.

She had reconciled with the father of her daughter, who was a supportive partner with a clean record, the court heard.

Her partner provided a letter the court, describing her as a “changed person” who will “not make the same mistakes”.

The court heard Lacey intends to avoid Geelong and her “anti-social peers” upon her release from jail.

Lacey must also complete a 12-month community corrections order and was fined $250.

Originally published as Abynei Lacey jailed over role in fake cop home invasion plot