Bronson Ellery’s best mate Michael Warburton complains prison is ‘shocking’ and he ‘doesn’t like it’

Alleged Bandidos bikie Michael Ryan Warburton, a close friend of the notorious Bronson Ellery, has complained in court that jail is “shocking” and he “doesn’t like it”.

A CLOSE friend of the notorious Bronson Ellery has complained in court that jail is “shocking” and he “doesn’t like it”.

Alleged Bandidos bikie gang member Michael Ryan Warburton was released on parole yesterday after pleading guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court to nine charges, most relating to a police chase in Arundel in July.

The charges include unlawful use of a motor vehicle, evading police, forgery and possession of a dangerous drug.

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Michael Warburton leaves court in 2018. Picture: Annette Dew

Warburton, who appeared via video link, spoke up when Magistrate Pamela Dowse commented that judging by his criminal history it appeared he liked it behind bars.

“No I don’t,” he replied.

“I don’t like it, that’s the God honest truth.”

Magistrate Dowse commented she had not been to that particular prison but knew it was not a nice place.

“You don’t want to come out here,” Warburton replied.

He claimed his criminal history was a “thing of the past”.

“I think you told that to the Judge the last time you were sentenced,” Magistrate Dowse replied.

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Warbuton was best friends with Bronson “Lizard Man” Ellery who killed his girlfriend Shelsea Schilling and himself in a Southport unit in November 2016. Picture: Supplied

Warburton said he had been in custody for almost a year this time and had “learnt a very harsh lesson”.

Magistrate Dowse said Warburton might be “a bit of a slow learner”.

In December 2016, the Bulletin revealed Warburton was in Ellery’s Southport unit when he is believed to have killed himself a month earlier.

Ellery had asked Warburton to visit, a court was told in 2018, after witness statements alleged Ellery killed former girlfriend Shelsea Schilling. Ellery was dubbed the Lizard Man due to his prominent facial tattoos.

Warburton arrived to find Ms Schilling in a pool of blood. For an hour he supported Ellery who sources said had changed into his best suit, put on his favourite song, laid down in front of a mirror, and draped Ms Schilling’s lifeless arm across his body.

Warburton supported Ellery in the moments after he took a drug overdose and died. Witness statements said Ellery killed Ms Schilling earlier that day.

Ellery told him: “I promised her I would go with her” and committed suicide in front of him, the Brisbane Supreme Court was told in June 2018.

Ellery’s family have long called for an inquest into the two deaths, saying he had been living in fear in the lead up and they always found it strange he left a suicide note and apology for the Schilling family but not his own family.

In March last year Warburton hit headlines when his ankle was injured when his van was rammed at a Coomera shopping centre over an alleged drug debt. Another man was stabbed by a third man during the incident.

Warburton yesterday pleaded guilty to leading police on a chase, involving the police helicopter, in Arundel about 8pm on July 13 last year.

Police were called when a stolen car was seen driving in the suburb.

Warburton refused to stop and lead police on a chase through the suburb before the car was stopped by road spikes.

He then ran off but stopped when police pulled a taser on him.

Warburton was also found with stolen bank cards and steroids.

Defence lawyer Dave Garratt, of Howden Saggers Lawyers, said Warburton would remain on parole until November next year for unrelated charges.

Magistrate Dowse sentenced him to nine months prison with immediate release on parole.