Thick Mao: Senior Lone Wolf bikie gang member released from jail over drug, gun charges

The vice-president of a bikie gang busted driving around the western suburbs with a loaded handgun and bulletproof vest has been released from jail.

A Senior Lone Wolf bikie gang member has been released from prison after he was caught driving around Footscray with a bulletproof vest and a loaded handgun.

Thick Mou, who police say is the vice-president of the gang’s Victorian arm, was arrested in June last year after crashing an unregistered black Mercedes Benz into another vehicle.

Before the crash, the 32-year-old had been seen by police driving “erratically” and at high-speed through Footscray.

Officers pulled over and found him with a loaded .45 calibre semi-automatic handgun hidden in a nearby bush.

A search of the Mercades, which had stolen plates, found four mobile phones, a ballistic vest, a vial of GHB and a box of ammunition.

Chillingly, one discharged bullet casing from the handgun was located on the driver‘s seat.

A month later on July 28, police searched the Sydenham home he shared with his partner and two children, seizing drugs, gold chains with outlaw motorcycle gang insignia and a beretta handgun with silencer.

Mao pleaded guilty to all charges in April this year, returning to Sunshine Magistrates Court via video link from Barwon Prison on Tuesday for sentencing.

Police allege Thick Mou, 32, is the vice president of the Lone Wolf bikie gang’s Melbourne arm.

His lawyer, Emma Turnbull, told the court he had spent more than 400 days in custody since his arrest and was hoping to “get back on his feet”.

“This is a man that has now been in custody for over a year,” she said.

“In the covid climate he has done exceptionally hard time.”

She said her client wanted to move on with his life and should be given help by the courts to keep clear of drugs and look after his mental health.

Sentencing Mao to time served and a two-year community corrections order, magistrate Jennifer Grubissa said a presentence report had raised “some issues” but ultimately found he was suitable for community rehabilitation.

“These are objectively serious charges I’m to sentence you on,” she told Mao.

“You cause the court a great deal of concern about the safety of the community. Certainly the court does not want you or other people to engage in these behaviours.”

Mao will return to court on October 26 for judicial monitoring.