Vincent Roberts awaits sentence after violent kidnapping in northern NSW
A kidnapper busted with a freshly-fired short-barrelled shotgun took a man to a bikie clubhouse in Lismore where he allegedly threatened to skin him in the bush.
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A kidnapper busted with a freshly-fired short-barrelled shotgun took a man to a bikie clubhouse in northern NSW where he allegedly threatened to skin him in the bush.
Vincent Roberts recently fronted Lismore District Court through a visual link after pleading guilty to taking and detaining a person to obtain an advantage while causing actual bodily harm.
The 29-year-old also pleaded guilty to having a firearm in a public place, possessing a shortened non-pistol firearm without authority, intimidation and dealing with crime proceeds.
Documents tendered in court, which include some aspects which remain disputed, state on Boxing Day, 2022, Roberts was drunk in the back seat of a Holden Commodore after receiving a lift from his cousin and another man.
Roberts asked the driver to pull over in Lismore around midnight when he saw the victim walking along a street with another person.
The Crown’s case is Roberts punched the victim twice, pulled out a shotgun and pointed the firearm at the man’s head.
“If you don’t jump in this car, I will blow your brains out,” Roberts allegedly told the victim.
Documents state Roberts forced the victim to sit on a car baby seat and hit him with the firearm as the car drove off.
The Crown’s case is Roberts threatened to skin, shoot and bury the victim in the bush, telling the victim “I’m going to shoot you up the ass”, however, the offender denies these threats.
The offender, on the Crown’s case, pointed the gun at the victim’s head and said:“If you don’t stop crying like a bitch, I’m going to shoot you.”
Roberts denies pointing a gun at the victim’s head.
The offender pulled the trigger of the firearm with the victim telling police he heard a click.
When the firearm did not fire the offender allegedly retrieved two bullets from the car, loaded the weapon and said to the other passengers: “I should just kill him now.”
Roberts denied having ammunition for the gun.
About 30 minutes later, The car parked on Terania St, North Lismore, opposite the Lone Wolves Outlaw Motorcycle Gang clubhouse.
“I am going to kill you, I’m going to take you to my bikie friends and they are going to have some fun with you,” Roberts said while hitting the victim.
The offender left the car and headed to a nearby house as the victim made a dash for safety at a Bridge St service station.
When Roberts returned he ordered the driver to look for the victim with the offender firing a shot out the window as they scoured South Lismore.
The victim hid in a vacant home until 2am during which time he told police he heard two gunshots.
Officers recognised the car from earlier and pulled it over on Bruxner Highway, South Lismore.
Police seized the shotgun which smelt like it had just been fired as well as ammunition cartridges including one which had been used.
Roberts was arrested and searched with police locating $1429 cash, nearly 10g of meth and a glass pipe.
The victim suffered a bruise to his stomach, left shoulder and arm.
The matter is listed for a contested facts hearing at Lismore District Court in October.
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