Flynn Laidlaw fronts court over extorting money from friend

A thug locked his new-found friend in a room and threatened to stab him if he didn’t give him money following a big night on the beers and weed.

Flynn Laidlaw of Sunshine North detained his friend and threatened to stab him if he didn’t give him $250.

A night of fun between two new-found friends turned ugly after one man detained the other and extorted money after threatening to stab him with a knife.

Flynn Laidlaw detained his mate — who he had recently met via social media — in a room, sat on the floor against the locked door and demanded $250 to let him go in the early hours of May 4, 2024 in Sunshine North.

Laidlaw, 30, was sentenced in the County Court on Monday to a combination sentence of 17 months’ imprisonment and an 18-month community corrections order.

The court heard that Laidlaw and the victim went to a hotel to drink and play pool about 6.30pm on May 3, 2024.

About three hours later, the two left the hotel and after having dinner, they went to Laidlaw’s Sunshine North home to listen to music and consume weed.

Flynn Laidlaw has been jailed for 17 months and also ordered to serve an 18-month community corrections order for detaining a friend and extorting money from him.

Laidlaw became enraged that the cannabis cookies were not strong enough and his friend asked him to calm down.

When his friend said he had anxiety disorder, Laidlaw accused him of lying about a number of things and an argument started.

Laidlaw grabbed a 20cm knife and brandished it at him. His friend grabbed his jacket and said he was going home but Laidlaw pushed him to the side and locked the door.

Laidlaw repeatedly denied his request to leave, sat on the floor against the locked door and demanded money.

He said “Give me $20 and I’ll let you go” and “Do you want to get stabbed?”

His friend transferred $20 but Laidlaw demanded $50 and then $250. The man managed to flee the room but Laidlaw grabbed him and said “Yeah, if it’s not in there by midday, I’ll punch you in the f-----g face. I’ll stab you in the f-----g guts”.

He managed to flee and got home in an Uber.

“You turned on someone who was supposed to be a friend, behaving in the most unhinged and frightening manner despite the victim trying to calm you initially,” Judge Gabriele Cannon said.

“Despite telling you that he suffered from anxiety, you proceeded to behave in the most dreadful fashion.”

Judge Cannon said the victim told police the knife “scared him to death” and the whole situation put him in an immediate panic attack.

He said he did not wish to fight Laidlaw but knew he had to get out of the situation he was in.