Rebel bikie Jack Laidlaw and co-accused Jack Croucher rob man at Aberdare in 2018
A Rebels bikie from the Hunter got a friend from primary school to help fix his mum’s car before he then callously robbed and assaulted him.
Newcastle
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A Rebels bikie from the Hunter got a friend he had known since primary school to help fix his mum’s car before he then callously robbed and assaulted him.
Jack Laidlaw was “good friends” with Blake Lambert who lived just 350 metres away in Aberdare.
According to Crown facts, Laidlaw and co-accused Jack Croucher turned on Lambert in the early hours of August 2018 after Laidlaw had asked him to fix his mother’s car.
It’s believed once Lambert had fixed the vehicle and returned it to Laidlaw, he then demanded Lambert hand over his keys to his car before striking him to the head.
Crown facts then detail how Croucher made Lambert drive to an ATM in Cessnock before returning to Lambert’s home at around 5.19am where he demanded he delete CCTV footage.
Laidlaw then violently smashed through the door to join Croucher, who had grabbed a hammer from the toolbox and held it towards Lambert, before punching him several times to the face causing his eye to bleed.
Between the house and the garage both men then started to pile up items to steal which included a Phillips brand monitor, Hitachi TV, Makita orbital sander, an apple macbook laptop, Dick Smith TV, Makita grinder and a Billabong wallet.
Crown facts said Laidlaw threatened Lambert about going to the police and said, “you know what will happen if you go to the cops don’t you. Instead of killing you I’ll kill your dog and make you watch”.
But despite the threats as soon as they left Lambert rushed to Maitland Police Station to report he had been robbed.
Police started an investigation and with help from DNA evidence, later arrested Laidlaw two days later.
It wasn’t until September 2018 police then arrested Croucher.
In Newcastle District Court last week, Laidlaw pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery inflicting actual bodily harm.
Charges of common assault, stalk and intimidate, steal property in dwelling and goods suspected stolen have no pleas recorded.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) decided there would be no further proceedings in the charges of aggravated break and enter and demand property in company with menaces to steal against Laidlaw.
Co-accused Jack Croucher also pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery actual bodily harm. Charges of detain a person to obtain advantage, steal property from dwelling and assault occasioning actual bodily harm have no pleas recorded.
The pair appeared via video link together. The pair joked and laughed and said “luv ya bro” before leaving as the matter was adjourned until May for sentence.