Michael Anthony Wallam: 3 years jail for brutal shovel attack on mother

A Kojonup man who brutally attacked his 58-year-old mother with a shovel and caused severe injuries has been sentenced to three years jail. Michael Anthony Wallam, 31, appeared for sentencing in Albany District Court on July 22, having pleaded guilty to aggravated grievous bodily harm and escaping custody. On July 12, 2023, Wallam — who was due to report to Kojonup police as part of a suspended prison sentence for burglary — became enraged when his mother tried to leave Kojonup for Katanning. The 31-year-old beat his 58-year-old mother multiple times with a shovel, leaving her with a broken forearm, fractured ribs, a punctured lung and fractured vertebrae. The woman was taken to Kojonup Hospital, then transferred to Albany Health Campus and Royal Perth Hospital. Police arrested Wallam the next day, but he escaped custody, eventually surrendering to police in Collie the following day. A psychiatric report obtained for sentencing said Wallam had been using methamphetamine from the age of 16 and was likely using between half a gram to a full gram on the day he attacked his mother. Judge John Bowden said the offences were “so serious” that only a jail sentence would be appropriate. “In relation to the grievous bodily harm, there was the use of a weapon, there were repeated blows, and the reality is that your mother suffered serious injuries,” he said. “Clearly, your mother doesn’t fear you as she has not asked for a restraining order and clearly she wants to rekindle the loving relationship, and that’s a matter I take into account. “But against that is the fact that you were so angered that you did resort to violence, you armed yourself with a weapon, you struck repeated blows.” The court activated Wallam’s suspended prison sentence for the burglary and sentenced him to three years and one month with eligibility for parole.