Damon Burriss: Finks bikie blames ‘broken’ childhood for gun, drug crimes

Gang life: A drug-dealing Cranbourne East dad with a love of firearms says he joined the Finks OMCG because of a need to “feel connected”.

Finks bikie and father of three Damon Burriss was caught dealing ice from his Cranbourne East bedroom.

A father of three nabbed trafficking ice from his bedroom says his bad start in life and a desire to belong were the reasons why he became part of a bikie gang.

Damon Burriss, who has a 31-page rap sheet, has spent the past five years committing serious drug, assault and weapons-related crimes since joining the Finks while in custody.

When he was caught dealing the Cranbourne East 30-year-old was on a corrections order after being found by police walking the streets with a loaded gun while off his head on meth.

The unemployed tradie was also nabbed with a stolen driving licence and Medicare card.

And on another occasion he was caught in possession of ecstasy, more meth, knuckledusters and pepper spray after leaving a New Year’s Eve party.

Burriss pleaded guilty to trafficking, drug and weapons possessions, proceeds of crime and court order breach crimes at Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

The court heard on February 1 this year drug cops raided his house, but he wasn’t there.

In Burriss’ bedroom police found a black box with 11g of ice, $615 in cash, prescription pills and stolen South Australian ID cards.

His car was in the yard, but he had seen the raid happening and jumped over a fence to get away.

And on December 31 last year officers saw him walking towards his home.

In his satchel he had 1.25g of ice, two ecstasy pills, knuckledusters and pepper spray.

When he was arrested in Pakenham South on March 21 officers found a knife in his pocket and a series of drug-dealing messages on his phone.

He told police he was trafficking to help an associate and feed his own drug habit.

Burriss’ defence lawyer Nikhil Sood said things started to go downhill when he couldn’t perform his plastering and painter work because of a spinal injury.

He said his client then took to drugs and alcohol to self-medicate, and became involved with a motorcycle gang while in prison.

“He came from a family life that was broken,” Mr Sood said.

“In gang life he felt connected.

“And this is the gang life he found himself in.”

He said Burriss was remorseful for his “immature” offending and wanted to get drug and mental health treatment for his issues, requesting his sentence be deferred so he can go to rehab.

But magistrate Vicky Prapas said she didn’t have any faith in a deferral for someone with a serious criminal history which included priors for trafficking and serious firearm offences.

“I accept he has had a difficult journey in life,” Ms Prapas said.

“But drugs are a real stain on our community, we see it every day at Frankston (court).

“We see every day how lives are destroyed.”

Burriss was jailed for 12 months, minus 113 days he has already served in custody.