NSW Police Criminal Groups Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Robert Critchlow revealed exclusively with NewsLocalthat 25 investigators from the Gang Squad had dismantled the entire OMCG’s Brutal South Chapter alongside Strike Force Raptor and South Coast Police.

It follows a series of arrests as part of a 12-month campaign to reclaim coastal towns long overrun and plagued by the local chapter.

“We wanted to ensure the protection of these regional communities on the south coast by using an eradication model when it came to dismantling the Brutal South Chapter,” Supt. Critchlow said. “The chapter caught the attention of the squad over a year ago, following a violent assault at the Huskisson Hotel involving chapter president Graeme McGilvray.

“We identified him as a significant person of interest, resulting in his arrest and charges being laid.”

McGilvray, a 33-year-old dad with ‘HELLS ANGELS’ tattooed down the side of his head was dubbed a “violent offender” in court last year, after he headbutted another man during the ‘disgraceful’ brawl at the packed Huskisson Hotel in January, 2020.

He was sentenced to two years in jail to be served in the community on September 11, after a combination of cocaine and alcohol led him to attack a group of ‘Middle Eastern’ men who were “staring at him” at the Huskisson Pub on January 24, 2020.

While he was able to walk free from court, he was ordered to complete community service, abstain from drugs and not consume alcohol in any public place.

NewsLocal understands the 33-year-old is no longer president of the Hells Angels Brutal South chapter and is not associated with the group.

Supt. Critchlow said the eradication technique used on the state’s south coast meant all members of the organisation would be “taken out” to prevent the Hells Angels chapter from regrouping after the arrest of its president: “there was a simple message from police to members of the chapter, either become a law-abiding citizen, or we will come for you next”.

The Brutal South Chapter is the south coast arm of the Hells Angels OMCG, with most of the members living in the Bay and Basin area, which includes the suburbs of Vincentia, Sanctuary Point, Erowal Bay and St Georges Basin.

In January, police also charged another high-ranking member of the gang — alleged Sergeant at Arms Steven Balshaw.

Encased in an armour of tattoos, Balshaw, of the seaside town of Mollymook, was charged with goods suspected stolen in custody of another, two counts of possessing a prohibited drug, and habitually consorting with convicted offenders despite warning, after Strike Force Raptor raids allegedly uncovered steroids, knuckle dusters and “paraphernalia relating to outlaw motorcycle gangs”.

A few months earlier, in July last year, police arrested Vinnie Italia, an alleged Hells Angels member and a Sanctuary Point associate, after they allegedly detained a man for money.

Police allege Mr Italia, 31, and his mate seriously assaulted a 28-year-old Basin View man in a garage when they allegedly detained him to get money from his bank account.

Italia, of Nowra, was charged with one count of take or detain in company with intent to get an advantage occasioning actual bodily harm. He remains before the courts.

The Criminal Group Squad boss said the methods used on the Brutal South Chapter wouldn’t be a one-off, with work currently underway to eradicate the Nomads on the south coast, Bandidos in the Central west and the Finks New England Chapter.

Meanwhile, Supt Critchlow said a whole-of-gang eradication plan was currently being planned through the Criminal Group Squad for an unnamed OMCG.

“Outlaw gangs have been preying upon regional and rural communities for too long, despite the constant arrests and efforts of police,” Supt Critchlow said.