Police spoil man’s 21st birthday party plans

A MAN who broke into what he thought was an abandoned home to celebrate his 21st birthday has landed himself in court.

Zach McKenna was with his brother and three friends when they decided to break into a vacant Pakington St property in April.

They had planned to sit on the roof drinking in a spot providing million-dollar views.

But they set off multiple alarms, and police soon arrived.

While being questioned, McKenna initially claimed his name was “Brodie”, before police discovered his identity.

It later emerged he was wanted for questioning after being found carrying five knives and a small quantity of drugs in December.

The man, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty in Gee- long Magistrates’ Court yesterday to the break-in, along with drug and weapon offences.

The court heard McKenna had been serving a corrections order at the time.

Defence lawyer Simon Northeast said his client did not realise he was breaking the law when he forced his way into the Geelong West house.

“His instructions are that if he knew it was someone’s home, he wouldn’t have climbed in,” Mr Northeast said.

He said McKenna had a difficult upbringing that was marred by criminality in his family.

But he said he was hoping to get his life on track by selling a $15,000 car he won in a competition two years ago.

McKenna will return to court tomorrow for sentencing.