‘Sinister’ figment of imagination had role in drug trafficking, court hears

A Belmont drug trafficker who stashed large amounts of money and methamphetamine in two cars with a ‘sinister’ super soldier accomplice has learned his fate.

A Belmont man plagued with delusions of a “super soldier” has been sentenced to more than three years behind bars for drug trafficking.

Anthony Bidmade, 33, was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison for one charge of trafficking in a commercial quantity of a drug of dependence and one charge of dealing with the proceeds of a crime.

The County Court of Victoria heard that Bidmade, who had entered a plea of guilty, was suffering from a delusional disorder at the time that manifested in paranoia and a figment named John who had a real impact on his life.

“Since as early as 2007, the focus (of the delusions have been) mainly a man named John, described by you as a super soldier with a sinister connection to the US military,” Judge Bourke said during sentencing.

“You were likely psychotic during at least parts of the offending.”

In October 2020, Bidmade was located in the front seat of an overdue rental car that was seized by police and towed to a storage space in Melbourne.

Bidmade approached the tow-truck driver and offered him $10,000 to allow him into the car to collect his belongings. When the driver refused, Bidmade paid a woman in methamphetamine and chocolate to tail the truck.

The woman was said to have trailed the truck from Geelong to Melbourne and was told to alert Bidmade if anyone approached the stolen car.

Alerted by the behaviour, police searched the vehicle and located $35,500 in cash and 103.2g of mixed substance, including methamphetamine, which was found in a cylinder box stored underneath the car.

A search of Bidmade’s property and a second car found a “tick list” of people he owed money to, $20,800 in cash and 95.805g of methamphetamine.

In April, Judge Bourke said Bidmade’s attempts to cover-up the crime by bribing the tow-truck driver and woman was “pretty clumsy”.

Bidmade’s offending typically carries a 25 year and 15 year sentence respectively, but Judge Bourke took into account his mental illness.

Bidmade was given a two year minimum term and has already served 552 days in custody.

Originally published as ‘Sinister’ figment of imagination had role in drug trafficking, court hears