Former Hells Angel bikie who took 'law into his own hands', jailed for three years
By Elise Fantin
Updated Thu at 10:49am

 

A former Hells Angels bikie from Mount Gambier who tried to steal CCTV footage of a robbery before police could get to it, among other offences, has been jailed for three years.

Graham Daniel Young, 40, pleaded guilty to blackmail, four counts of drug trafficking and attempting to obstruct the course of justice.

The District Court heard in November last year he left messages threatening a man who he said made a crude remark to his then girlfriend, leading the man to pay him $2,000.

This was taking the law into your own hands and to a certain extent employing your general reputation as a means of instilling fear.

In sentencing Judge Sydney Tilmouth gave credit to Young for admitting he received the money, which he has since paid back, despite proof of the transaction being unlikely.

"Nevertheless this was taking the law into your own hands and to a certain extent employing your general reputation as a means of instilling fear," Judge Tilmouth said.

Between November and December 2014 police found Young in possession of drugs, including ecstasy tablets at he had procured for a young woman.

Cocaine, methamphetamine and ecstasy were also found at Young's father's house stored on his behalf.

Judge Tilmouth said it was apparent from records kept that Young was benefiting commercially.

The court also heard Young was involved in a failed plot to retrieve CCTV footage of a robbery before police could get to it.

Judge Tilmouth said it was still unclear to the court if Young had completely broken ties with the Hells Angels but acknowledged he had made efforts to distance himself from the club.

"I do not consider that so many of your family would support you as much as they do if they thought there was any risk of maintaining or resuming that affiliation," he said.

Young was sentenced to three years jail with a non-parole period of 18 months, backdated to December last year.

Judge Tilmouth said the offences were too serious to suspend, but cited that, with the support of his family, Young had a reasonable prospect for rehabilitation.