Stephen Mathieson jailed for Hampton East daylight extortion over engine tester
A Bayside trucking boss knew his two criminal employees were the right men to help him assault, kidnap and extort a frightened Hampton East man. But the $50,000 heist may cost more than just jail time.
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A “remorseless” boss enlisted two criminal employees to help him threaten, assault and kidnap a Hampton East man in a terrifying daylight extortion plot.
The County Court was told Prime Transport Pty Ltd’s Stephen Mathieson was the “architect” of the plot to scare his victim into handing over a $50,000 automotive engine tester known as a Dyno Machine.
Mathieson and his two cronies, Bradley Berry and Richard Smith, stormed their victim’s Nepean Ave home while on the clock on January 3, 2017.
The brutes tackled the victim to the ground, bound his wrists with cable ties and punched him in the head several times after he tried to escape.
Mathieson demanded the Dyno but the victim said it was at a friend’s Cranbourne workshop.
The victim was bundled into a car next to a knife wielding Berry and driven to a truck parked on nearby South Rd.
The frightened man – who said later he only co-operated out of fear – was forced to call his friend to say he had sold the Dyno to two men, who would be picking it up shortly.
Mathieson and Smith then drove the truck to the workshop while Berry and the victim followed.
CCTV footage showed Mathieson and Smith loading the Dyno – which has yet to be recovered – into the truck.
The victim was driven back his home then forced to hand over a laptop needed to operate the machine.
The trio were sentenced to a minimum two years’ prison each on November 12 after they were found guilty of kidnapping, aggravated burglary, intentionally cause injury and armed robbery.
Smith, 37, has numerous priors including drugs, violence and armed robbery convictions.
Berry, 42, has a “disturbing” prior criminal history including convictions for assault, weapons, drug trafficking and escaping custody.
Mathieson, 35, has a criminal history including weapons, burglary and motor theft charges.
Mathieson employed nine staff at his Hampton East trucking company.
He owns a second company but both businesses are now at risk of collapsing.
Judge Richard Smith said Mathieson had a “less prolific” criminal record than the others but he was the “architect”.
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“You were the employer of Mr Smith and Mr Berry and occupied a position of some status and authority in relation to them,” he said.
“The offences were committed on a normal working day, presumably one on which they would normally have expected to be performing tasks associated with their employment with you.”
Judge Smith said none of the offenders had shown any remorse.
Mathieson, Berry and Smith were each sentenced to a maximum of four years’ prison with a non-parole period of two years.