Court: Ex-model with alleged Lone Wolf MC links Romeo Le-Thorn appeals sentence

A former Byron Bay Manscapes model jailed for threatening to kill a woman and previously sentenced after posing as a fake ADF soldier has landed in court again, where he appealed to have his jail time reduced.

Romeo Le-Thorn modelling for Manscapes. Picture: Facebook - Romeo Le-Thorn

A former Byron Bay Manscapes model jailed for threatening to kill a woman and previously sentenced after posing as a fake ADF soldier has landed in court again, where he appealed to have his jail time reduced.

Romeo Le-Thorn, 38, appeared at Lismore District Court on Friday through audio visual link from custody at Clarence Correctional Centre.

The qualified plumber’s dark hair was slicked back into a man bun.

After being convicted for possessing an unauthorised prohibited firearm, possessing/attempting to, prescribed restricted substance and two counts of destroying or damaging property, Le-Thorn appeared in court to appeal his current jail sentence.

Judge Jonathon Priestley said he believed there was evidence of Le-Thorn being connected to notorious bikie gang Lone Wolf MC.

“When placed in the community he is an absolute terror,” he said.

Romeo Le-Thorn modelling for Manscapes. Picture: Facebook – Romeo Le-Thorn

Le-Thorn sent photos of guns to the victim and threatened to kill the victim’s mother as he stood outside her home on November 27 last year, the court was told.

He was in prison when the victim dated a woman known to him – ending the relationship because he feared Le-Thorn, police state in court documents.

“I go back (to jail) and you … drug and rape her. I’m coming after you with everything I have,“ Le-Thorn said.

The other man denied allegations and Le Thorn threatened his family, the documents state.

“You will feel every pain known to man. No one is safe. Your family, your kids. They are all dead until you face me,” he said.

“I’m going to come after you and I’m going to make sure you bleed out slowly so I can watch your life drain before me.

“What you tell your family not to open the door. Now I’m back in my car to get my gun. I’ll shoot my way in,” he said.

Romeo Le-Thorn. Picture: Police

The victim informed his mother what happened and she reported Le-Thorn to officers at Byron Police Station.

Police arrested Le-Thorn on December 1 and he has remained in custody since.

Defence lawyer John Mulherin said Le-Thorn was not told his partner had been dating the victim while he was away in prison.

“His motivation was to confront the victim because he believed he sexually assaulted his partner,” he said.

Mr Mulherin said when police arrested him four days after the offending, he had calmed down and hadn’t committing any further offences in the meantime.

“He pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity and wants to break the cycle of offending and complete courses to help himself, including drug and alcohol rehabilitation and anger management,” he said.

Police prosecutor Sargent Sheehan said the appeal should be dismissed.

Romeo Le Thorn taking a selfie in the car. Picture: Facebook – Romeo Le-Thorn

“What was in Le-Thorn’s mind at the time of offences created a scary situation for the victim and his mother,” he said.

Judge Priestley said Le-Thorn had a lengthy criminal record, there had been no charge made about the rape claim and argued sending images of firearms to the victim was serious.

“It’s fairly extreme language, it’s all done remotely but that is tempered as he is in the exact location he is making threats,” he said.

“Making threats about killing people and wanting to see them bleed out shows he has a serious repeated disregard for the law.

“Le-Thorn’s landlord spoke highly of him, there seems to be two versions of him: The law-abiding helpful tenant and the outlaw motorcycle gang member.

Judge Priestley said reports showed he could maintain work when he isn’t involved in criminal activity however he can’t be granted bail.

Romeo Le-Thorn modelling for Manscapes. Picture: John Bortolin

The intimidation offences breached previously imposed bail conditions from when he damaged an electronic ankle bracelet and broke a bench in custody.

“The cold hard facts show he can’t be back in the community on bail conditions because he has breached them with this offending,” Judge Priestley said.

“If he is running around threatening to kill people – he can’t say ‘sorry I didn’t mean it’.”

“Regrettably he talks good game about what he should and should not do but when placed in the community, he is an absolute terror … I do think there needs to be a term of imprisonment.”

Judge Priestley accepted Le-Thorn hadn’t been using drugs for two years and had allegedly taken steps to distance himself from the bikie gang.

The sentenced was reduced to 20 months in prison with a 12-month non-parole period.

The previous community corrections orders were reinstated.

At the end of sentencing Mr Mulherin told Le-Thorn he has eight months remaining in his prison sentence, as he has been in custody since December.

“Least I’m out before Christmas, cheers,” Le-Thorn said.