Hells Angels North Crew bikie Chad McGregor spared jailed for ‘cruel’ abuse of former partner
A member of an Adelaide outlaw motorcycle gang who twice slammed his ex-partner into the floor and threatened to “bury her” has been spared jail after a judge found he had turned over a new leaf.
Police & Courts
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A member of the Hells Angels North Crew has been spared jail for the “cruel” bashing of his former partner while he was in the grips of methamphetamine addiction.
Chad Alexander McGregor, 29, remains on home detention after pleading guilty to two counts of assault, two counts of aggravated assault and one count of aggravated assault against the female victim.
The charges occurred over separate incidents in 2018 and 2019.
On his social media account the former Mount Gambier local can be seen sporting the colours and insignia of the Hells Angels – including their slogan “Support The 81” – as well as the logo of the North Crew, one of the three chapters of the gang operating in South Australia.
District Court Judge Ian Press said during sentencing that on December 8, 2018, McGregor had placed his hands around the woman’s neck and choked her – leaving her with a sore throat.
That charge predated the introduction of laws in 2019 which could have seen McGregor charged with the more serious offence of strangling, choking or suffocating.
During a domestic incident between November 15, 2018, and June 17, 2019, McGregor twice slammed the victim into the floor knocking her unconscious.
“She came to with you screaming at her,” Judge Press said.
On March 26, 2019, the victim was forced to climb out a bathroom window and flee wearing only a T-shirt and underwear after McGregor became verbally abusive towards her.
The victim fled to her car where McGregor caught her and pulled her back from the steering wheel by her hair.
McGregor pulled her from the car and pushed her to the ground.
As she sat on the lawn crying, McGregor drove the car towards her.
“The act of driving toward her is not a charged act but I note that it involves an element of cruelty,” Judge Press said.
“She was clearly defenceless and vulnerable.”
McGregor dragged her into the passenger seat and drove her around the neighbourhood – ignoring her pleas to take her to hospital and threatening to take her out into the pine plantations and bury her.
He then pulled the car over and burst into tears.
McGregor has remained on home detention bail since his arrest that day – but has spent varying amounts of time in custody for breaching his bail conditions.
Nick Vadasz, for McGregor, argued during sentencing submissions that in the three years since the offending his client had turned his life around from chronic methamphetamine use.
With the help of a new partner who provided a positive role model and various education courses Mr Vadasz said Mr McGregor had gained insight.
Judge Press accepted the submission and ordered McGregor serve his two year, eight month and 29 day sentence, with a non-parole period of one year, three months and 29 days, on home detention.
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