Bikies and associates charged with blackmail

Four members or associates of an outlaw motorcycle gang went to a northern suburbs business on Monday morning to extort $16,000 from a man, a court has heard.

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Four members or associates of the Hells Angels outlaw motorcycle gang went to a northern suburbs business on Monday morning to extort $16,000 from a man but then increased their demand to $90,000 when the victim fled in fear, a court had heard.

Christopher John Radomanski, 33, of Walkley Heights, Michael Paul Vettese, 26, of Northgate, Paul Greco, 33, of Ingle Farm, and Thomas Wilshire Patterson, 21, of Wynn Vale, all faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday, charged with aggravated blackmail.

Greco was also charged with entering a licensed premises while wearing prohibited items.

Prosecutors told the court the group arrived in a car at a Stanbel Rd, Salisbury Plain business about 10am on Monday.

They alleged when the men got out of the vehicle one of them was holding a black metal pole and others had their faces covered with a scarf.

Upon seeing the men alight from the car, a man at the business, who feared for his safety, ran to a car and drove away, the court was told.

Prosecutors said the men were there to collect a $16,000 debt they believed was owed to them and after the victim had fled, another witness overhead one of the suspects say “you may as well make it $90,000 now”.

The court heard the incident was part of an ongoing blackmail campaign being carried out against the victim, who had previously handed over $20,000 cash as well as a car to men who had threatened him and his parents.

Radomanski did not apply for bail but his lawyer indicated he would do so at a later time.

Greco and Patterson’s bail applications were refused and they were remanded in custody.

A home detention report has been ordered for Vettese, who was also remanded in custody. His application will be heard next week before the group will appear again in court in April next year.