Hells Angel bikie Peter ‘Skitzo’ Hewat jailed over stolen Holden HSV parts
UPDATE: HELLS Angels bikie Peter “Skitzo” Hewat — jailed today for handling stolen parts — has been linked to the notorious cult “The Family”.
Law & Order
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HELLS Angels bikie Peter “Skitzo” Hewat has been revealed as having childhood links to notorious cult The Family.
The revelation was aired by County Court judge David Parsons this morning while sentencing the 60-year-old heavy-hauler for handling stolen goods.
Judge Parsons was reading from remarks previously made by Judge Meryl Sexton when sentencing Hewat over similar charges more than a decade ago.
“I am told that you had a difficult childhood and that you were adopted by associates of Anne Hamilton-Byrne and your adoptive father was a violent man who died when you were five,” Judge Parsons echoed during the sentencing hearing.
Hamilton-Byrne, a yoga teacher, formed the controversial group known as The Family in the 1960s.
Children, many of them said to have been forcibly adopted, were isolated at rural properties and forced to take LSD and other drugs.
Judge Sexton said in 2005 that Hewat didn’t learn of his adoption until recent years, during which he stole cars and went joyriding.
Police uncovered the engine of a Holden HSV, along with other parts, in a tow truck at Hewat’s Mickleham home in October 2013.
The engine, radiator and other parts of a prime mover, as well as other stolen vehicle components, were also discovered at a Craigieburn premises.
Hewat this week pleaded guilty to three charges of dealing with the proceeds of crime, worth almost $250,000 combined.
He was found not guilty of nine other charges against him.
Judge Parsons said the high-ranking outlaw motorcycle gang member was negligent in considering whether or not the parts he received were proceeds of crime.
He described Hewat, who has been kept in maximum security at Barwon Prison, as having “modest” prospects of rehabilitation.
“I say that in view of the fact that you have been committing crimes over a very lengthy period, somewhat in excess of 40 years, and seem to reveal no or very little commitment to changing that pattern of behaviour,” Judge Parsons said.
Hewat has already served 254 days of pre-sentence detention and will be able to walk free in under four months.