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Former soldier turned bikie allegedly cut off man’s ear

AN ARMY hero turned bikie member allegedly tried to cut off a man’s ear after demanding $11,000 in payment.

Candace Sutton
news.com.auApril 27, 20185:07pm

A former Australian Army soldier turned bikie with the feared Rock Machine club has been charged with cutting off the ear of a victim who remains in hiding.Source:Facebook

A FORMER army hero turned member of one of what police believe is the world’s most vicious bikie gangs has been charged trying to cut off a man’s ear while demanding money.

Police allege Rock Machine bikie group official Adam Bourke, who is also a martial arts champion, attempted to cut off the man’s ear on the NSW Central Coast last October.

The 42-year-old, who used to be in the Australian Army, allegedly demanded $11,000 while inflicting a wound above the man’s ear during a dispute about a car service.

Police have charged Mr Bourke and another man who is an alleged member of the Rock Machine outlaw gang, which originated in North America but has sprung up chapters in NSW, South Australia and Western Australia.

According to court documents seen by news.com.au, Mr Bourke and Adam Haffenden have both been charged with wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, demand property with menaces with intent to steal, and knowingly participate in criminal group to assist crime while using their position in the Rock Machine outlaw motorcycle gang to intimidate.

Both men come from Wyoming on the NSW Central Coast where the offences allegedly took place.

Adam Bourke was in the army and toured the Middle East.

Adam Bourke was in the army and toured the Middle East.Source:Facebook

A third man, who is Mr Burke’s neighbour Jeffrey Derrick Hall, has been charged with demand $11,000 with menace and knowingly participate in activities by a criminal group, the Rock Machine.

Police allege the offences took place after a botched car service on a vehicle belonging to a female friend of Mr Bourke.

Mr Bourke has fought in mixed martial arts bouts in the Hunter Valley and on the Central Coast.

The Rock Machine bikie gang is infamous in North America for its vicious feud with the Hells Angels and in Australia for arson attacks, car bombings and the use of rocket-propelled grenades.

South Australian Police have confirmed sightings of the gang’s distinctive insignia — an eagle’s head with the words “Rock Machine Nomads” — in recent months.

In Perth, police reported in January suspicions the Rock Machine had re-emerged.

Rock Machine were involved in a violent feud with the Rebels — Australia’s biggest gang — when it set up in WA in 2009, with the tit-for-tat exchanges including firebombings, bashings and the shooting in 2011 of Rebels WA president Nick Martin, who survived the attack.

The gang’s alleged re-emergence brings the number of outlaw motorcycle clubs in WA to 12, while street gangs Brothers 4 Life and the Mongrel Mob also have a presence.

Mr Bourke and Mr Haffenden have been remanded in custody until June.

Mr Hall remains on bail.