Shannon Finau faces sentencing hearing for role in Dillon Mancuso kidnapping

A young man involved in a brutal kidnapping where a former bikie was held hostage with duct tape wrapped around his face was there to help make up numbers, a court has heard. Warning: graphic images.

Police invesitagors at the scene of a factor in Revesby after the alleged kidnapping of Dillon Mancuso (bottom left inset).

A man who admitted to his involvement in the “terrifying ordeal” that saw a former Lone Wolf bikie kidnapped and held hostage for nine hours with duct tape wrapped around his face was just “muscle” in the operation, a court has heard.

Shannon Finau, 28, pleaded guilty to take and detain in company with the intent to ransom and occasioning actual bodily harm, and specially aggravated break and enter to commit a serious indictable offence.

A charge of tampering with evidence with the intent to mislead a judicial tribunal was also taken into account during sentencing.

A group of men charged over their alleged involvement are set to fight the charges at trial.

At 2.57am on June 1, 2021, Dillon Mancuso and his family were asleep at a residence in Bringelly when seven people allegedly forced the door open and entered the house with their faces covered with clothing.

Alleged ransom picture of former bikie Dillon Mancuso.

Mr Mancuso was allegedly dragged from his bed. When he managed to break free and tried to escape, the group allegedly pursued him and recaptured him, allegedly striking his body and causing many injuries.

During the trip between the Mancuso’s home and a warehouse in Revesby, Mr Mancuso’s face was wrapped in duct tape.

The agreed facts state CCTV footage captures the victim and the alleged kidnappers arriving at 3.25am, where Mr Mancuso was detained for nine hours.

He alleged to police, “they were messaging people in my phone and asking for money and s--t like that … oh stupid s--t like f---ing powerball money … $100 million, s--t like that.”

At 8.46am, police arrived at the warehouse and started surveillance before operatives from the NSW Police Tactical Operations Unit contained the scene and called on the occupants to exit.

Police examine the crime scene after the kidnapping.

About 10 minutes later, the alleged victim was sent out the front, but eight people remained in the location where three fires were allegedly lit within the unit in a bid to destroy evidence.

During a sentencing hearing at Campbelltown District Court on Thursday, defence barrister Ertunc Ozen said Finau had a mild to moderate disability that impacted his moral culpability.

Mr Ozen said Finau was there as “muscle” in what he acknowledged would have been a “terrifying ordeal”.

“We are talking about persons in the bottom one per cent of society in terms of intellect,” he said.

“Persons who are going to be followers, not a leader ... [ Finau] did not have any decision-making authority.”

Mr Ozen noted Finau had PTSD and psychological issues relating to trauma after a disadvantaged childhood that included “extreme” domestic violence.

Crime scene police at the Revesby factory unit.

He said Finau, who was on parole at the time of the kidnapping, had shown positive progress during his time in custody and noted correctional officers had said, “we wish him the best”.

“He is not a lost cause. He is young enough to turn his life around, he is motivated to do so, and he now has the family support to do so,” Mr Ozen said.

Kellie-Anne Chessor, a representative for the Director of Public Prosecutions, acknowledged Finau’s mental disability and his positive signs for rehabilitation.

However, she said Finau had admitted to being a part of the joint criminal enterprise during which she said there was “gratuitous cruelty” against the victim.

“He knew he was getting into a stolen car. He knew when he got to the victim’s house, they had the intention to kidnap and detain someone,” Ms Chessor said.

Judge Georgia Turner adjourned the matter, and Finau, who remains in custody, will be sentenced on June 16.