Ben ‘Notorious’ Geppert only left prison cell with escort because of ‘target on his back’

Details of former ‘Instagram bikie’ Ben ‘Notorious’ Geppert’s life behind bars have been revealed, with his lawyer saying he has a “target on his back”.

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FORMER “Instagram bikie” Ben “Notorious” Geppert has spent the last 11 months in prison with a “target on his back” and only leaves his cell with an escort to protect his safety.

Geppert has been on remand since last September for punching a man and then bashing him with a baseball bat over a $500 drug debt.

Geppert rose to prominence when he began posting his life obsessively on Instagram. He and former partner Allaina Vader also used to post racy pictures of their lives together.

The former Finks and Hells Angels bikie got into a public spat with fellow ex-bikie Brett “Kaos” Peachy.

In the Southport District Court on Tuesday, Geppert pleaded guilty to two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm and one count each of burglary at night, demanding property with menaces and breaching bail.

The 29-year-old sold his friend of three months a quarter of an ounce of the drug ice for $1500 in late August last year, but was paid only $1000.

When the remaining money was not paid Geppert sent his friend a picture of a gun.

He then attacked his friend outside his home on September 2 last year.

His friend had suspicions the drug provided was not ice as it had dissolved before he could smoke it.

Geppert told his friend the drug debt had gone up to $2000.

About six hours later he returned to the man’s Broadbeach home, smashed a glass door and beat his friend, saying the debt had risen to $3000.

Benjamin Geppert.

The man suffered a cut that needed stitches.

The victim’s roommate helped the victim get $2400 cash together and a Rolex was given as collateral.

Police were contacted and planned to meet Geppert in Broadbeach under the guise the man was providing the additional cash.

Geppert fled but was picked up four days later in northern New South Wales.

He has been in custody since and appeared in court on Tuesday via videolink.

Ben Geppert arrested by police in northern New South Wales.

Judge Catherine Muir sentenced Geppert to three years’ prison with parole release on December 3.

“Your behaviour is appalling, it was persistent and there was an element of premeditation to it,” she said.

Crown prosecutor Gary Churchill said: “In my submission it is quite thuggish behaviour.”

He said Geppert’s criminal history spanned seven pages.

Defence barrister Malcolm Harrison, instructed by Vered Turner Lawyers, said Geppert fell into the bikie crowd at 23 and had become known as an “Instagram bikie”.

“He is essentially stuck in his unit because of his profile,” he said.

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“As a result of that he has a target on his back.

“He cannot leave his unit without an escort because there are safety concerns for him.”

Mr Harrison said Geppert had spent about 22 hours a day in his cell for about six months.

Geppert’s brother Harrison Geppert was stabbed to death in a Varsity Lakes park in September 2019.

Originally published as Ben ‘Notorious’ Geppert only left prison cell with escort because of ‘target on his back’