Chopper Read’s son found guilty of all charges in 2023 police chase

The son of infamous standover man Chopper Read was sentenced following a police chase that ended with him hiding in a ditch with a sawn-off shotgun.

Charlie Read, son of Chopper Read, at the Hobart Magistrates Court. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The 25-year-old troubled son of notorious Australian gangster Chopper Read has been sentenced to a year and nine months behind bars for a police chase which ended with the young man hiding in a ditch, with a sawn-off shotgun nearby.

Charles Vincent Read appeared via videolink from Risdon prison in the Tasmanian Supreme Court on Wednesday, where he was sentenced for an array of charges relating to a police car chase in 2023 when he was high on drugs.

Charlie Read son of Chopper Read at the Hobart Magistrates Court. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Read had plead guilty to the list of charges which included dangerous driving, evading police, possessing firearms without a license and possessing a controlled substance, among others.

The incident took place in February of 2023 when Read failed to stop for police in New Norfolk and a chase of some 12 kilometres ensued.

Police called for back-up, and another team of officers laid road spikes which punctured all four of Mr Read’s tyres.

Mark Brandon “Chopper” Read was one of Australia’s most notorious gangsters.

Despite the tyres rapidly deflating Mr Read kept driving and began fishtailing along Brighton roads.

He eventually abandoned the car and was found half an hour later by officers hiding in a ditch, “affected by drugs and alcohol” with two loaded illegal rifles nearby.

Mr Read told officers another person had been driving the car during the chase and he had been lying prone on the back seat after being hit on the head by this anonymous person, who had since run off.

The court did not believe him, and sentenced Mr Read to one year and nine months in prison.

During the sentencing remarks Justice Pearce acknowledged that Mr Read’s father was a “notorious criminal” who died in 2014 but not before introducing his young son to a “high level criminal life”.

Justice Pearce accepted Chopper’s notoriety had been a problem for Mr Read.

Chopper Read with 7-month-old Charlie. Picture: Supplied

Justice Pearce accepted that Mr Read had suffered cumulative trauma and PTSD as a result of growing up so closely associated with the criminal underworld, and that he started using drugs and alcohol at a very young age “to self-medicate”.

“I accept your father’s notoriety has been a problem for you but the time has come for you to be responsible for your own behaviour and get the therapy … recommended.” Justice Pearce said.

Mark Brandon “Chopper” Read was a key player in the Australian criminal underworld and also wrote several books. . The 2000 hit film starring Eric Banner, Chopper, was based on his life.

The year before he died Chopper told The New York Times; “Look, honestly, I haven’t killed that many people, probably about four or seven, depending on how you look at it”

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Originally published as Chopper Read’s son found guilty of all charges in 2023 police chase