Dale Collins, Sean Phipps, Jessica Beddoes to stand trial over alleged kidnapping

A man who broke into his ex’s home fleeing a drug debt was allegedly abducted and threatened with a baseball bat during a violent kidnapping, a court has heard.

The accused trio fronted court this week for a two-day committal hearing following an alleged kidnapping in June last year.

A trio accused of being involved in a violent kidnapping have been committed to stand trial.

Dale Collins, Sean Phipps and Jessica Beddoes appeared in the Geelong Magistrates Court on Tuesday, for the second day of a committal hearing in front of magistrate John Lesser.

Mr Collins, 33, who appeared in the dock, and Mr Phipps, 34, who appeared via prison videolink, are charged with kidnapping, two counts each of false imprisonment and recklessly causing injury and single counts of common law assault and threatening to inflict serious injury.

Mr Phipps is also charged with another count of threatening to inflict serious injury, as well as making a threat to kill, possessing a firearm as a prohibited person and unlawful assault.

Ms Beddoes, 30, who is on bail, is charged with two counts each of false imprisonment and recklessly causing injury, and a single charge of kidnapping.

All three pleaded not guilty.

On Tuesday, the court heard from the alleged victim, who said he broke into Ms Beddoes’ Grovedale home through a window about 5am on June 6 last year.

Under cross examination, the man, who the court heard was Ms Beddoes ex-partner, said he couldn’t recall if he had asked her permission and had “maybe” taken ice the evening before.

He was, the court heard, “hiding out” from people he owed “drug money”.

He said he had “nowhere to go” and picked his ex’s place because it was “on the other side of town” and “no one knew where it was”.

The man told the court he slept during the day and briefly interacted with Ms Beddoes when she was at the address in the afternoon. She asked him why he was “still there”.

Police were called during the day regarding the complainant being in her home, the court heard.

Later, while the man was showering, three men, alleged to include Mr Collins and Mr Phipps, entered the home.

The court heard the suspected third man had been recently interviewed.

The alleged victim said he thought the men had communicated with Ms Beddoes but he couldn’t remember details.

“I’m pretty sure one of them’s (sic) on the phone to her at one stage,” the man said.

At 9pm the three men took the victim to Geelong station via bus. it is alleged.

The initial plan was for them to put him on a train, the court heard, however, one of the men said there was a “change of plans” and they got into an Uber.

The alleged victim was reluctant to go into details about what transpired.

“I don’t really want to remember the whole situation to be completely honest,” the man said.

Following the alleged victim’s testimony, Detective Kincaid gave evidence.

Questions were asked of the detective regarding telecommunications evidence and a conversation Beddoes’ had with an undercover officer in police cells following her arrest in September.

The court heard an aluminium baseball bat matching one Mr Collins allegedly used to threaten the victim was found during a search of his Norlane home, while a machete was found in a “similar” fashion.

A County Court directions hearing was set for March 4.

Originally published as Dale Collins, Sean Phipps, Jessica Beddoes to stand trial over alleged kidnapping