A homeless drug addict accused of violently assaulting a 92-year-old woman outside a Coles supermarket in Melbourne has a lengthy and violent criminal history.
Sean Lloyd McLachlan, 39, was arrested on Wednesday after he allegedly attacked the woman in the inner-western suburb of Williamstown.
McLachlan was charged with intentionally causing injury and appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday without a lawyer.
He did not apply for bail, and the case was adjourned for a week to allow him to seek legal representation.
Court records reveal McLachlan’s disturbing criminal history.
In 2021, he was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison with a 20-month non-parole period for threatening a young Subway worker with a syringe during a robbery in Footscray.
During sentencing, Judge Damian Murphy described the behaviour.
‘You went into the restaurant and walked behind the swing door at the counter, holding the syringe, and said to the female attendant, effectively, “Give me all the cash, otherwise, I’m going to hurt you”,’ Judge Murphy said in his sentencing decision.
Sean Lloyd McLachlan, 39, was arrested on Wednesday after he allegedly attacked a 92-year-old woman in Williamstown at about 12.20pm
The 92-year-old victim of the alleged attack has been left ‘very distressed’ by the incident
The court heard that the worker stepped back and told McLachlan she did not know the password to open the cash register. He repeated his threat, leading her to desperately try to grab the syringe from his hand.
‘You broke her grip and put the needle of the syringe towards her stomach, she stepped back and told you she would open the cash register, you pulled the needle back slightly and she then opened the register and gave you a number of notes and coins,’ Judge Murphy said.
In 2015, McLachlan was also convicted of using a Stanley knife to rob another victim and spent the proceeds on drugs. He received a three-year sentence with a 20-month non-parole period.
Judge Murphy said McLachlan had a ‘very deprived ‘upbringing during his sentencing decision.
The court heard his parents separated when he was four, his father was a violent alcoholic and his mother, a heroin addict, spent time in prison. She died when McLachlan was 21.
‘Your dysfunctional childhood progressed to a dysfunctional adulthood which included unemployment, homelessness and then lapsed into heroin and methamphetamine addiction, offending and being cycled through the criminal justice system,’ Judge Murphy said.
At the time, Judge Murphy said McLachlan’s prospects of rehabilitation were ‘poor’.
Court records reveal McLachlan’s disturbing criminal history
‘Your prospects of rehabilitation are dependent on whether you can be reclaimed from your long history of drug addiction,’ he said.
‘It’s a matter for you as to whether you’re able to get off the drug addiction when you do need to get out of prison, but you’ll need a lot of help.’
McLachlan is due back in the Magistrates Court on Thursday.
The 92-year-old victim of McLachlan’s latest alleged attack has been left ‘very distressed’ by the incident.
‘I wish to thank all those who have been so caring of me,’ she said in a statement.
‘I remember nothing of the actual incident, but when I woke up, I was surrounded by the police and ambulance and caring onlookers.
‘I’m pleased to go home as I have a loving family and supportive friends.’
