Terrance Walker: ‘Bikie hitman’ avoids jail for extortion over $100

A thug from Melbourne’s west posed as a ‘bikie hitman’ when he stormed a family home chasing their disabled son’s $100 drug debt.

A Tarneit thug said he was a “bikie hitman” when he stormed a family home chasing their son’s drug debt, a court has heard.

Terrance Walker appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday pleading guilty to extortion by making a threat to kill and using methamphetamine.

The court heard the 38-year-old had relocated back to his home in New Zealand in 2013, shortly after he was questioned about the incident by police.

His lawyer, Felix Ralph, said he returned with his family three years later and was “unaware” he’d been charged until police knocked on the door this year.

“He left for two reasons; to escape old associates with whom he was falling deeper and deeper into a life of crime and to assist family members who were experiencing bad health,” he said.

Prosecutor Zoran Petric told the court the incident had begun on June 1, when Walker and the man were at an address in Hoppers Crossing smoking methamphetamine.

The man, who had a brain injury from a traffic accident, left after arranging to sell 0.1g of ice to a person for $100, and returned without the money.

Mr Petric said he was blamed for “screwing up the deal” and Walker demanded he repay the cash or replace the drugs.

When he was unable to, the two men devised a plot for Walker to threaten his parents and make them hand over cash and a diamond ring.

Terrance Walker, 38, posed as a 'bikie hitman' to extort money from an acquaintance's parents over a $100 debt.

At the family’s house in Werribee, Walker told the man’s father he was a “hitman” and said he needed to pay the debt “for his own safety”.

“I need to talk to you about your son,” Walker told the man’s frightened father at 2.30am on June 2, 2013.

“He owes $15,000 … I need to collect money, otherwise there are six bikies around the corner.”

He was given $3500 and the diamond ring but told the father it wasn’t enough and he would come back for more.

Instead of paying, the father contacted police and Walker was arrested on June 6, admitting to the plot in an interview with police.

Mr Ralph said since the offending, his client had done a “remarkable” job of rehabilitating, giving up drugs and was now a productive member of the community.

“The court may take a cynical view that he was just escaping justice at that time,” he said.

“But that doesn't take into account the significant changes since then. His rehabilitation has been significant and complete.”

He suggested magistrate Angela Bolger fine him a significant penalty and let him move on with his life.

But Ms Bogler said that was “so far out of the sensible sentencing range it’s not helpful”.

“This offence is someone posing as a bikie and terrorising a family in their own home,” she said.

“Taking advantage, in the cruellest way imaginable, of a disabled member of the family. It’s all well and good that Mr Walker has turned his life around but there needs to be a proper denunciation of his behaviour.”

The matter was adjourned for Walker to undergo an assessment for a community corrections order and returned to the same court the following day.
Ms Bogler said the report was “favourable”, indicating he would be suited for a community-based order.

She sentenced him to a three year order with supervision and treatment for drug dependence and to reduce the likelihood of re-offending.

He was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid community work and repay the victim $25,000 in restitution.

“If you breach that order you will be be brought back and re-sentenced,” she said. “That would be very bad for you. I can’t imagine it would result in anything other than jail time.”