Group charged over alleged 13-hour abduction in Elizabeth East ‘drug house’

Police allege five people were involved in a violent incident where a drug associate was held for 13 hours and assaulted before her mum was ordered to pay ransom.

A woman was allegedly detained for 13-hours and bashed and robbed by multiple people over an unpaid drug debt, a court heard.

Daniel Peter Baker, 31, Vanessa Renae Brewster, 34 and Rex Lyall Clough, 31, appeared by video link from custody in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday for their alleged role in the abduction and assault of a drug associate.

Sharon Anne Clancy, 52, and Nicole Marie Bailie, 27, are also accused of being involved in the terrifying ordeal.

Baker applied for home detention bail.

A police prosecutor opposed the bail application, saying the alleged victim needed to be protected.

The court heard the alleged victim was allegedly detained for over 13-hours at Baker’s Elizabeth East house on December 30.

The court heard the alleged victim – who is an associate to the five co-accused – had her relationship with Baker sour after he demanded money from her for a “drug debt”.

Baker allegedly sent her photos from outside her father’s house, demanding she hand over her car or he would take her father’s.

The court heard the alleged victim went to Baker’s house to sort things out, where she was led inside by Baker and Brewster before they locked the door.

Vanessa Brewster. Photo: Facebook

“The co-accused (Brewster) is alleged to have thrown an ashtray in the face of the complainant,” the police prosecutor said.

The court heard Baker allegedly put his hands over the alleged victim’s mouth and nose so she couldn’t breathe.

“She fell to the floor … whilst on the floor, the accused, Mr Baker and co-accused Brewster proceed to hit her and punch her,” the police prosecutor said.

“Further threats were made to beat her up, this extended to alleged threats to chop off her fingers, to break her leg, to throw acid on her face.”

The complainant, was also on her evidence, forced to sign car transfer papers transferring her car into the accused, Mr Baker’s name.

The court heard Baker allegedly lodged the transfer papers the following day.

“A demand was allegedly made to the complainant’s mother to pay $1000 if she ever wanted to see the complainant again,” the police prosecutor said.

The court heard Baker was allegedly involved in demanding the payment, while Clough collected the payment from a separate location.

Alex Rice, for Baker, told the court he believed it was a weak prosecution case.

“On her version of events, she was lured there under false pretences,” Mr Rice said.

“She does have a history of methamphetamine use.”

Clancy, of Salisbury Park and Bailie, of Banksia Park are charged with theft, while Brewster, of Hillbank and Clough and Baker, both of Elizabeth East are also charged with blackmail, assault and threat charges.

Nicole Bailie. Photo: Facebook

Rex Clough. Photo: Facebook

Mr Rice told the court that the alleged victim’s story seemed implausible after watching the CCTV footage.

“On her version of events, significant injuries were had – she was so frightened that apparently she proposed she urinated herself at least once,” he said.

“When the complainant finally exits the house at about 2.25pm in the afternoon, importantly her demeanour is such on the CCTV that it’s completely inconsistent with someone being assaulted badly over a period of hours.”

Mr Rice said a more likely scenario was that Baker’s property was a transient house used by people who abuse drugs.

The court heard Baker had significant mortgage repayments and his house would likely be foreclosed if he remained in custody.

Chief magistrate Mary-Louise Hribal denied Baker bail.

The charges were adjourned until August.