Former Rebels bikie Jack Laidlaw pleads guilty after Cessnock crash, assault uncovers drugs
A former Rebels bikie had drugs in his car when ploughed into a parked trailer, then punched its owner in a bid to stop the cops being called.
Newcastle
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A former Rebels bikie resorted to violently punching a man on the side of the road, all because he didn’t want him to call the cops when he ploughed into the back of his trailer.
Jack Laidlaw, 26, was only on his learner’s permit when he smashed into a trailer parked on Jurd St, Cessnock, on August 4 last year because he was distracted by his partner’s phone and “wasn’t paying attention”, according to police facts.
Court documents revealed things escalated quickly when the owner of the trailer wanted to call the police, but Laidlaw started aggressively yelling and getting in his face saying: “Don’t f--king call the cops.”
It may have been because of the more than 23 grams of heroin police would later find in his car, along with prescriptions tablets and an ice pipe.
Police facts said Laidlaw fronted up to the 54-year-old man and pressed up against his chest - within 5cm of his face - before he punched him in the jaw and the victim dropped to the ground.
But the 26-year-old didn’t let up, getting on top of the victim, punching him multiple times and putting him in a choke hold before the man bit him, according to police facts.
After a bystander rushed in to help, Laidlaw got off the victim and ran off, leaving behind his “dazed” partner, who also fled the scene.
The man was treated at the scene before being taken to Maitland Hospital while police searched Laidlaw’s vehicle.
Police facts said when officers found his partner walking on a nearby street, his partner claimed: “He ran off, he left me.”
They later found Laidlaw hiding in the wardrobe of an address at Aston Ave, Cessnock, where he was arrested.
Officers raided the property and found scales, resealable bags and various paperwork in the bedroom, according to court documents.
During an interview with police following his arrest, Laidlaw claimed the victim was the “aggressor” and that he was calm and non-confrontational.
But in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday, he pleaded guilty to not giving particulars to another driver, not displaying L plates, being a learner not accompanied by another driver, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, drug supply, negligent driving and two counts of intimidation.
Charges of possessing or attempting to possess a prescribed restricted substance and doing an act intending to pervert the course of justice were dropped.
His matters will now move to the District Court in August, when a date will be set for his sentence.
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