Corey Sharer charged with blackmail of Adelaide tobacco store owner

A football player and corrections officer has faced court for allegedly attempting to blackmail the owner of a tobacco store - but his lawyer said it couldn’t have been him.

A corrections offer has been freed from remand after he allegedly attempted to extort the owner of a tobacco store in what police say is the latest crackdown on SA’s tobacco wars.

Corey Dale Sharer, 28, was granted bail in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday after his lawyer argued he was at home when the alleged blackmail occurred.

A prosecutor told the court they were opposed to all forms of bail, for the safety of the alleged victim and fears Mr Sharer may destroy evidence if released.

SA Police has alleged the owner of a South Brighton tobacco shop was the intended victim of the blackmail attempt. The business is not accused of any wrongdoing.

Detectives attached to SAPOL’s anti-tobacco wars taskforce Operation Eclipse arrested Mr Sharer, of South Brighton, on Saturday.

Corey Sharer is charged with blackmail. Photo: Facebook

He is yet to enter pleas to charges of blackmail and marking graffiti.

Counsel, for Mr Sharer, told the court her client arrived home at 11.30pm after a concert last Thursday.

“9.30am the next morning a tobacco shop finds a note and some spray paint,” she said.

“My client still hasn’t left his home at that time, he’s been inside the whole time.”

Mr Sharer’s lawyer said CCTV cameras show Mr Sharer only leaving his home at 11am the next morning before police arrive at his house later that night.

The court heard Mr Sharer had worked as a corrections officer at the Remand Centre for three years and plays football for Fitzroy football club, having previously played for Balaklava.
Mr Sharer’s lawyer said there was no threats of violence in the blackmail allegation and her client had no prior criminal history.

“There’s an allegation of some debts, the debts are consistent with what most of us have and in terms of a tax debt and a payment plan,” she said.

Operation Eclipse was set up in the wake of a series of arson attacks on tobacco and gift stores.

The Advertiser has previously reported allegations by police that SA tobacco shop owners are being asked to pay $2000 a month or risk being firebombed.

Last week, police separately raided what they said was the Pooraka safe house of one of the major criminal groups involved in the illicit tobacco trade in South Australia, seizing about $1m worth of illegal cigarettes.

Almost $1 million worth of illicit tobacco products have been seized by Consumer and Business Services and SAPOL in the past two weeks. Picture: Supplied

Some of the illicit tobacco seized last week from a home in Pooraka. Picture: SAPOL

Tactical commander Chief Inspector Brett Featherby said officers were continuously investigating offences of violence and extortion related to the sale of illicit tobacco.

On Monday, Magistrate Roderick Jensen released Mr Sharer on supervised bail to a Largs Bay address, due to the allegations being contested and the fact his profession may increase his risk in custody.

The charges were adjourned until December, next year.