‘F*ck the police’ accused Rebels bikie Lorne Campbell writes to court to request leniency

Lorne James Campbell’s three-page missive also begs for strict bail conditions to be eased so he can start a new life.

Beginning with “Dear Your Honer (sic), Campbell writes that weekly police reporting is preventing him from planning holidays and moving on from his past.

The menacing-looking alleged Rebels member, who has Fuck the Police tattooed on his face, claims police charged him “for how I appear, and not what I have done”.

“I hope your honer (sic) can find it in your heart to grant my bail variation and help me in the process of moving on with my new family life,” he wrote.

Beneath his florid signature, Campbell added: “If your honer (sic) doesn’t find it fit to grant me such bail variation, I would then seek to be excused from reporting WED 27th August and SEPTEMBER the 3rd, to travel to bali with my partner to support her with her new business venture, and also to plan our wedding.”

Campbell was one of the first to be charged under the Newman Government’s tough anti-bikie legislation in October for breach of bail.

His case created front-page headlines when controversial magistrate Bernadette Callaghan let him walk because she did not believe he was a bikie.

Police have since dropped a string of other charges including extortion, wilful damage, dangerous conduct with a weapon, stealing and receiving tainted property.

Representing himself in Maroochydore District Court today, Campbell tendered the letter to Judge Robertson, asking to have his weekly Wednesday reporting dropped.

His legal argument, hand-printed with blue pen on three stapled note pages, said an outstanding threat charge against him had been hanging over his life for 16 months.

“All the serious charges have been dropped, due to lack of evidence, and I feel as tho (sic) I am being charged punished thro (sic) way of bail,” he wrote.

“For the first half of this year I was on curfew (nightly visits/checkups, sometimes 2-3 times a night/all hours, waking my family and neighbours, this resulted in my eviction from my last units.”

“I was also on daily reporting for other charges which were dropped 2 days before court.

“I believe these charges dragging on so long are not only wasting my time but also the courts (sic) time.”

Campbell claimed he was not a flight risk, had always appeared in court and “besides one minor technical breech (sic) of bail, I have never breeched (sic) bail”.

“We have asked the court to have these matters delt (sic) with, and are yet to be given a date which is making it difficult to leave this part of my life behind me and move on,” he wrote.

Judge Robertson attempted to delay the hearing until next week, which would have affected Campbell’s desire to fly to Bali on Tuesday.

“It seems every time I make a plan something pops up,” Campbell huffed in response.

The matter was adjourned until tomorrow after the prosecution indicated the application had been sprung on them.

 

 

 

LORNE CAMPBELL’S LETTER

Dear Your Honer (sic),

The reason I have come before you today is to ask for a variation on my bail conditions for charges from early 2013, over 16 months ago, which have now been down graded to threatening.

As a result of the decrease in seriousness there is a corresponding decrease in my likleyhood (sic) of failing to appear.

I have never failed to appear for court matters, and besides one minor technical breech (sic) of bail, I have never breeched (sic) bail. I have always lived up to my bail conditions.

We have asked the court to have these matters delt (sic) with, and are yet to be given a date which is making it difficult to leave this part of my life behind me and move on.

The variation I ask for is for my Wednesday reporting to be dropped, as this makes it very difficult for me to be able to visit family and friends, or plan family vacations/holidays.

I do not see myself as a flight risk, and want nothing more then (sic) to have these charges delt (sic) with.

I feel I have been charged for how I appear, and not what I have done, all serious charges have been dropped, due to lack of evidence, and I feel as tho (sic) I am being charged punished thro (sic) way of bail.

For the first half of this year I was on curfew (nightly visits/checkups, sometimes 2-3 times a night/all hours, waking my family and neighbours, this resulted in my eviction from my last units.

I was also on daily reporting for other charges which were dropped 2 days before court.

I believe these charges dragging on so long are not only wasting my time but also the courts (sic) time.

I hope your honer (sic) can find it in your heart to grant my bail variation and help me in the process of moving on with my new family life.

Yours sincerely

Lorne James Campbell

If your honer (sic) doesn’t find it fit to grant me such bail variation, I would then seek to be excused from reporting WED 27th August and SEPTEMBER the 3rd, to travel to bali with my partner to support her with her new business venture, and also to plan our wedding.