Ex-Hells Angels ‘Instagram’ bikie Ben Geppert charged with bizarre escape attempt

Former ‘Instagram bikie’ Ben Geppert has been arrested and charged after allegedly evading police as he swam across a Coast creek. Find out what happened.

Ex-Hells Angels bikie Ben “Notorious” Geppert has been arrested after a bizarre alleged attempt to escape the authorities.

The 30-year-old was at a property in Ranier Cres, Varsity Lakes on Sunday when he allegedly cut off an electronic ankle monitor tracking his movements.

Court documents allege Geppert was considered unlawfully at large from that point.

Police claim he evaded capture until Tuesday evening, when officers caught up with him at Tallebudgera Creek at Palm Beach.

Ex-bikie Ben Geppert at the Southport courts in 2020. Picture: Tertius Pickard

It is understood Geppert allegedly swam across the body of water and tried to steal a dinghy to aid his escape.

Geppert was taken into custody that night.

His movements between Sunday and his arrest on Tuesday remain unconfirmed at this stage.

Geppert has since been charged with one count each of unlawfully being at large, wilfully destroying or damaging corrective services property, and attempted unlawful use of a vessel.

He did not appear in person when his matter was mentioned in Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

While he was expected to be brought in from the watch house, where he had been since his arrest, the court was told Geppert was instead being taken to hospital.

Benjamin Geppert

It is not yet known why he required medical treatment.

No application for bail was made on his behalf.

Geppert will be remanded in custody until his matter is next mentioned in the Southport court on February 23.

The former Finks and Hells Angels member rose to prominence by prolifically posting about his and former partner Allaina Vader’s lives on social media, eventually earning the tag “Instagram bikie”.

He was sentenced in 2021 to three years’ jail with parole eligibility after violently assaulting his friend in an attempt to recover drug money.

Geppert is also known for taking on fellow ex-bikie Brett Peachey in a public feud in 2018.

He later starred in a video campaign for the Queensland Police Service’s OMCG Exit program, aimed at deterring young men from becoming involved in organised crime.

Geppert said at the time he tried to leave his criminal lifestyle behind after his 17-year-old brother Harrison Geppert was fatally stabbed in a Gold Coast park in 2019.

“I wouldn’t join a gang if I knew the truth,” he said in one of the videos.