Phillip Woods, Brenton Hayes, Brendan McLachlan, Jace Harding, Brian Farnsworth sentenced for Shane De Britt’s murder

Five bikies convicted of a Central West NSW rival gang boss’ murder formed a scheme to shoot and injure him because they were concerned for their own safety, a judge has found.

Five men have been sentenced for the murder of Bandidos chapter president Shane De Britt.

Five bikies found guilty of murdering a rival gang’s boss conspired to shoot and injure him due to concerns for their own safety, and that of their family and associates, a judge found.

Bandidos Central West chapter president Shane De Britt, 60, was shot and killed as he lay defenceless in his bed at a rural farmhouse in Eurimbla, one hour south of Dubbo.

Five rival gang members are each staring down more than a decade behind bars for his murder after a NSW Supreme Court judge found they had conspired to shoot and injure him.

Grudge Bringers bikies Phillip Woods, Brenton Hayes, Brendon McLachlan, Jace Harding and Brian Farnsworth were all found guilty of murder after a trial before Justice Dina Yehia.

Central to their plan was an earlier assault on Harding by Bandidos members, and escalating tensions between the rival gangs over territory.

Justice Yehia found Grudge Bringers president Woods and Hayes were the “architects” of the plan, and that Woods sent the gang’s “minions” to carry it out while he remained at home.

However, she found the plan was neither extensive nor sophisticated.

“All the offenders were motivated by a genuine concern about their safety, and that of their families and associates,” Justice Yehia said.

“The Grudge Bringers did not engage in tit for tat violence leading up to (the murder) – they did engage in grave violence when the plan to shoot the deceased was executed.

Shane De Britt.

“This violence was motivated by a desire to put an end to the violence and intimidation against them by engaging in violent conduct themselves.”

The Crown had asked the court to consider a life sentence against Woods, Hayes and also McLachlan if Justice Yehia was satisfied McLachlan fired the fatal shot.

Justice Yehia was not persuaded a life sentence was appropriate for either Woods or Hayes, and in finding it could not be established McLachlan had fired the fatal shot, resolved to sentence him identically with Harding and Farnsworth.

“Their recourse for violence was inexcusable and must be punished,” Justice Yehia said.

“It’s a joint criminal enterprise to inflict grievous bodily harm – it’s not always the case the sentence is lesser, much depends upon the circumstances.”

One of the men arrested after De Britt’s murder.

Woods was sentenced to 28 years in prison, with a 17-and-a-half year non-parole period which makes him eligible for release on March 21, 2038.

Hayes was sentenced to 20 years and three months’ imprisonment with a 13 year and two month non-parole period, making him eligible for release on November 1, 2033.

McLachlan, Harding and Farnsworth were all sentenced to 23 years’ imprisonment, with a 14 year and 11 month non-parole period.

Based on their different arrest dates, they will all be eligible for release in late 2035.

Justice Yehia had earlier given an account of how each of the men had wound up in a bikie gang.

Woods, Hayes and Harding were all said to have had difficult childhoods, while both McLachlan and Farnsworth had more stable upbringings but experienced bullying at school.

Justice Yehia observed that many had joined the Grudge Bringers in the pursuit of identity, acceptance and belonging they had not experienced in their young lives.

All have subsequently spent time in special protection in prison on remand due to Mr De Britt’s high profile.

“As one police officer observed,” Justice Yehia said. “Bandidos don’t forget.”