Scott Perry accused of pretending to be a cop during home invasion in Whittington

A Corio father accused of impersonating a police officer is alleged to have stolen cars, $9k in cash, and cannabis from a home in Whittington.

Scott Perry appeared in the Geelong Magistrates Court this on Thursday. Picture: Mitch Bear

A Corio father accused of impersonating a police officer alongside his son, his son’s former partner and an associate of theirs, is alleged to have stolen cars, $9k in cash, and cannabis from a home in Whittington.

Scott Perry, 48, is facing trial at the County Court in Geelong on a number of charges including false imprisonment, home invasion and theft.

Mr Perry, alongside three other co-accused, Abynei Lacey, Zachary Perry and Ricky Wilson, is alleged to have dressed in businesslike attire to resemble a policeman to commit crimes.

On March 20 last year police allege Mr Perry was inside a car with the three other co-accused, dressed in semi-business attire with blue latex gloves.

At about 8.20am Mr Perry and the other co-accused allegedly made their way to a home in Whittington pretending to be police.

Crown prosecutor Andrew Grant said when they arrived at the property, Lacey and Wilson got out of the car and banged on the front door claiming they were police and that they had a warrant.

The Whittington home was home to a couple and two adult children.

The court heard Lacey demanded the mother open the door. The woman then allegedly spoke to Mr Perry and Lacey.

The court heard the woman would describe Mr Perry as having short hair, being of a “chubby build” and having a “round face”.

Lacey then walked into the home, falsely claiming to be police.

Mr Grant said Scott Perry then took the son’s phone and made him sit in a chair in the backyard.

The daughter said Scott Perry also searched through the house.

Mr Grant said during the alleged home invasion while pretending to be police, they stole an iPhone, identification cards, CCTV, eight pairs of Nike shoes, jewellery, $9k in cash, cannabis plants growing in a greenhouse in the back of the home and keys to two cars.

Abynei Lacey. Picture: Facebook.

Police allege Mr Perry drove away in a Ford Ranger which belonged to the occupants of the Whittington home, while Zach Perry and Lacey drove away in a Mazda.

Prior to the alleged home invasion, Mr Grant said Mr Perry and the co-accused were driving through Whittington when they decided to pull over and speak to two brothers.

It is believed Lacey got out of the car and told the brothers to put their hands on a fence.

Mr Grant said after this, Mr Perry, his son Zach Perry and Wilson got out of the car and said “it’s the police”.

“The four of them, including Scott Perry, forced them to stand against the fence along the footpath,” Mr Grant said.

The court heard Lacey then searched one of the brothers pockets and took his wallet and mobile phone and said things “have you got anything sharp in your pockets” to make it sound like she was a police detective.

Mr Grant said at that point, Mr Perry and his son searched the other brother’s bag, and also searched through phones and wallets and took a bank card.

Mr Perry, his son and Lacey then got back into the car which was driven by Wilson.

When they left, the brothers then collected their belongings except for the bank card.

In relation to the incident, Mr Grant said the prosecution’s case was pretty simple, that Scott Perry is part of the members of that footage and told the jury that they would be able to clearly see him.

Defence barrister for Mr Perry, Hayden Rattray said there was no dispute in this case that Zach Perry, Wilson, and Lacey were involved in the offending.

However Mr Rattray said his client was not one of the people who committed these crimes.

He told the jury CCTV footage which prosecutions would rely on in relation to the brothers, would not be able to identify Scott Perry.

He also told the jury to consider if the witnesses in the alleged home invasion were reliable and would have correctly identified Mr Perry’s involvement in the offending, or if they were influenced by external factors.

The trial continues.

Originally published as Scott Perry accused of pretending to be a cop during home invasion in Whittington