Alleged Comanchero associate’s parole revoked over drug convictions

A man jailed over the 2015 shooting of an associate from rival biker gang the Rebels is back behind bars after his parole was revoked over drug offences.

Daniel Grech was convicted of intentional wounding over the shooting of a rival biker from the Rebels Motorcycle Club in March 2015.

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A man convicted over the shooting of a rival bikie associate is back behind bars after pleading guilty to drug and property offences.

A judge found Daniel Christopher Grech and co-accused Lihai Vimahi guilty of intentionally wounding a man, who had links to rival bikie gang the Rebels, in the drive-by shooting at Stirling in March, 2015.

In sentencing the pair in 2017, judge Stephen Walmsley said the men, who had connections with the Comanchero gang, were motivated by a belief the victim had been disrespectful to Vimahi’s uncle.

The court heard the shooting was an attempt at “vigilantism” and a result of a violent escalation of rivalry between the two gangs.

Both men were sentenced to more than six years in prison with a non-parole period of more three years.

A court heard the shooting was an example of the violent escalation of rivalry between the Comanchero and Rebels outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Grech was released on parole on July 11, 2018 subject to a raft of conditions including that he not commit any offences punishable by imprisonment or use a prohibited substance.

But his parole was revoked last week after NSW police busted him with 28.4 grams of MDMA — well in excess of the trafficable amount — on June 7, 2019 in Batehaven.

The 30-year-old had stashed the drugs down the back of his pants and then threw them into the corner of a toilet cubicle during a strip search, according to a police statement of facts.

During a search of his luggage, officers located a glass pipe used for smoking ice, digital scales and four Vedafil tablets, a prescribed restricted substance used to treat erectile dysfunction.

At the time he denied drug possession but later pleaded guilty to deemed supply of a prohibited drug, possessing a prohibited drug, possessing equipment for administering a prohibited drug, dealing with property suspected of being the proceeds of crime and possessing a prohibited substance.

ACT Police's bikie busting Taskforce Nemesis took Grech into custody on September 11 before his parole was revoked.

On 10 September at Queanbeyan Local Court, he was sentenced to nine months imprisonment to be served by way of intensive correction in the community over the drug supply charge.

He was sentenced to a seven month conditional release order for each of the charges relating to drug possession and possession of the ice pipe and was handed a seven month community correction order for dealing with the proceeds of crime.

Police attached to the ACT Criminal Investigations Gangs Taskforce NEMESIS took Grech into custody and he appeared before ACT Magistrates Court on September 12 charged with two more offences; driving a stolen motor vehicle and driving while suspended.

He faced the Sentence Administration Board last Tuesday, September 17, when his parole was revoked and another year was added to his sentence, which will now seem him locked up until November 2022.

Police allege Grech had links to the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang when he was involved in the shooting of a man with connections to the Rebels.

In the sentencing assessment report tendered to Queanbeyan court, Grech’s mother noted although he was “a bit of a joker” as a young man, he didn’t become involved with drugs until the death of his grandmother about five years ago.

“He also became involved with an Outlaw Motorcycle Gang and his subsequent offences were gang related, notably convictions for firearms and intentionally wound offences,” the report said.

“Although Mr Grech denied any current OMCG affiliation, ACT Police believe otherwise.

“It would appear that Mr Grech’s OMCG affiliations would have a significant impact upon his offending.”

Grech stated the drugs found on him were for personal use, had accepted full responsibility and was remorseful.

A reference letter from a case worker dated July 23, 2019, stated he had cut ties with the gang while in custody at Alexander Maconochie Centre.

“Daniel spent the last months of his sentence largely in isolation due to the risks this posed to his safety,” the letter said.

He undertook employment almost immediately when he was released on parole, working two jobs and 12 hour days in pursuit of a “normal life”, the letter said.

A reference letter from his mother stated Grech had worked hard on the family commercial dairy products delivery business but she noticed a considerable change in his behaviour when his grandmother passed away.

“He was no longer the Daniel we knew and loved,” she said.

“It breaks my heart to see my son, a hard working young man with a great future ahead of him, to have lost it all.

“His family is here to support him in any way possible through this situation.”