A 20-year-old man accused of deliberately running over wombats in his ute has indicated he will plead guilty to multiple charges under an agreement with prosecutors.
Tyson Michael Delbridge, an apprentice electrician from Fish Creek in Victoria’s South Gippsland, allegedly killed the animals in Venus Bay on February 18.
Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court, about 30 kilometres from Venus Bay, heard on Monday that Delbridge plans to plead guilty to two charges linked to the incident.
Delbridge appeared alongside his older brother, Angus Cameron Delbridge, and friend Jake Bland. Both men have also indicated they intend to plead guilty to charges connected with the wombat deaths.
Investigators previously described the alleged attack as “a senseless and deliberate act of animal cruelty”.
Prosecutors allege Delbridge drove over wombats on Lees Road, the route linking Venus Bay with nearby Anderson Inlet.
Concerned residents discovered the animals’ bodies and moved them to the roadside.
At least one of the dead wombats was carrying a joey. The young animal survived and was taken to a wildlife shelter.
Tyson Delbridge, the son of a cattle trader, has been identified as the man accused of killing the wombats
A male and female wombat were found dead, with one of the females carrying a joey
Our News Outlet visited the area after an image of Delbridge circulated widely on social media.
The region is surrounded by bushland, with a close-knit community living alongside abundant native wildlife.
Bright yellow signs warning motorists to watch for animals can be seen outside almost every second home.
Residents told Our News Outlet that as many as three vehicles may have been in the area when the wombats were killed.
Delbridge and his brother Angus are the sons of cattle trader and dairy farmer Cameron Delbridge, a longstanding member of the local community.
Delbridge’s lawyer, David Hancock, told the court that his client was ready to enter guilty pleas at his next hearing in March.
“Mr Delbridge will enter a plea to charge one, and he’ll also enter a plea to charge 21,” he said.
The proposed pleas have drawn scepticism from local wildlife advocates, several of whom have attended every hearing since Delbridge was charged.
“Sounds like he’s going to get off with a fine,” one Venus Bay resident told Our News Outlet.
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Wildlife cameras recorded a vehicle believed to be connected to the alleged wombat killings
In a statement issued at the time, Chief Conservation Regulator Kate Gavens said wildlife cruelty was unacceptable and pledged to investigate and seek prosecution for serious incidents.
‘The Conservation Regulator takes wildlife cruelty seriously, and I encourage the public to report any information about wildlife crime to Crime Stoppers,’ she added.
Investigators had been on the hunt for the alleged wombat killer for months, with the charges bringing some relief to the outraged local community.
News of the arrest was welcomed by South Gippsland Deputy Mayor and Venus Bay local Sarah Gilligan.
‘It’s been a very long seven months for the community of Venus Bay after the horrific [alleged] slaughter of too many beloved wombats,’ she told Our News Outlet then.
‘This was a deliberate attack on community values and I’m thrilled to see the office of conservation regulator and police following through.’
The alleged wombat massacre saw locals sharing information updates on social media in the hunt for the alleged perpetrator.
A poll on one page asked readers if anyone convicted of killing wombats should have their vehicle confiscated.
Tyson Delbridge and his dad Cameron (far right) enter court at an earlier hearing
The vehicle authorities believe Tyson Delbridge used to carry out the alleged wombat carnage
Venus Bay locals have erected signs outside their homes telling people to be mindful of the wildlife
The response saw 60 per cent of those who participated suggest a convicted offender’s car should be seized and crushed.
It is not the first time wombats have been killed in the area, with some locals suspecting more were deliberately killed just after Christmas last year.
It is understood some of the latest charges relate to near-identical alleged attacks on wombats in Walkerville, about 27km south of Venus Bay, in late 2024.
An offence of hunting protected wildlife carries a maximum penalty of $10,455 and six months imprisonment.
Animal cruelty offences carry a maximum penalty of $52,275 and 12 months imprisonment.
Our News Outlet contacted Victoria’s Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action for comment about the plea deal but it declined to comment.
