Bikie boss on murder of police chief: ‘Things turned more violent than we intended’

Gypsy Joker bikie boss Phil ‘Ugly’ Mawson says the car-bomb killing of former police chief Don Hancock was just deserts but he “feels bad” for the bloke caught in the crossfire.

Exclusive: The Australian founder of one of the world’s most feared bikie gangs, the Gypsy Jokers, has lifted the lid on the car bombing murder of police chief, Don Hancock, saying “things turned more violent than we intended”.

Phil ‘Ugly’ Mawson, who launched the Sydney chapter of the Gypsy Joker Motorcycle Club in 1969, said the 2001 Perth car-bombing murder of Hancock and his friend Lou Lewis forever changed the club’s relationship with police.

“There was always something going on between us bikies and the coppers. They treated us with disrespect and so we gave it right back to them. But mostly, the old guard had their heads screwed on.

Phil ‘Ugly’ Mawson and Fat Pizza star Paul Fenech struck up an unlikely friendship and have collaborated on Mawson’s first book, telling his life story. Picture: Penguin Random House

“Not always, though. Sometimes things turned more violent than we intended,” Mawson wrote in Ugly, his new book co-authored with Fat Pizza actor and comedian Paul Fenech and writer, Jordan King-Lacroix. (Fenech and Mawson struck up an unlikely friendship after meeting when Mawson was cast as a fictional bikie in TV series Housos.)

Speaking for the first-time on the Jokers’ involvement in the double-homicide that saw the streets of east suburban Perth strewn with debris after Mr Lewis’ Commodore station wagon was blown apart as it pulled into the driveway of Mr Hancock’s home, Mawson is none apologetic.

Members of the Gypsy Jokers out front of the Forth & Clyde Hotel, Balmain, 1970. From left to right: Grub, Odey, Ugly, Brutus, Mannix. Picture: Phil 'Ugly Mawson/ Penguin Random House

He had no personal involvement in the murders but feels the ‘revenge’ attack was justified.

“I wish I could have done Hancock in myself,” wrote Mawson, who has a ‘hate tattoo’ of barbed wire above his right eyebrow – an insignia he got while serving a seven-year sentence for the 2006 manslaughter of former family friend Brett Driscoll — to identify himself as part of the Long Bay Prison ‘murderers club’.

“I feel bad about Lou Lewis, though. He didn’t deserve it.”

The late Don Hancock in his police uniform.

Mawson alleges former CIB chief, Mr Hancock shot dead “one of our boys, Billy Grierson” at the Ora Banda Hotel, just north of Kalgoorlie in 2000, and tried to cover-up his involvement by using a “lemon wash” to cleanse himself of gunpowder.

Mr Hancock and Mr Grierson crossed paths in October, 2000, when Mr Grierson and a group of the Jokers stopped at the Ora Banda pub, owned by Mr Hancock, during a run.

According to Mawson’s version, tensions arose when Mr Grierson began flirting with Mr Hancock’s daughter, Alison, and Mr Hancock kicked the Jokers out.

Phil 'Ugly' Mawson (left) and Snotty (right) taking their official Gypsy Jokers Drinking Team photo. Picture: Phil 'Ugly Mawson/ Penguin Random House

“The boys didn’t really want any trouble,” wrote Mawson, and set themselves up a bush camp.

“They were all just minding their own business, knocking back a few longnecks and chatting away, when two big shots rang out.” One killed Mr Grierson.

According to Mawson’s account, when Mr Hancock arrived shortly afterwards:

“One of the Jokers looked at his arms and his face, had a sniff and said, ‘You’ve had a lemon wash.’ “You wash yourself with lemon juice after you’ve fired a gun to get rid of the gun powder residue.

That way, if the coppers swab you, they’ll get a negative result. This was what told us that Hancock had done it. Why else would he have washed himself in lemon juice?”

The investigating police present disregarded the remark.

“It was like they believed every word he said because he used to be in the force, and our boys were only bikies,” he wrote.

Police investigating the Don Hancock car bombing taking gravel samples from the driveway entrance to the property. Picture: Gary Merrin

Mr Hancock was never charged, and he had an alibi that he was home watching the Sydney Olympics closing ceremony.

A 2006 inquest into Mr Grierson’s murder found there was strong evidence against Mr Hancock but not enough to conclude he was the sniper.

However, the fallout from Mr Grierson’s death has continued into the present day.

Gypsy Joker Sidney ‘Snot’ Reid confessed to the car bombing murders of Hancock and Lewis.

Mawson during his sentence for manslaughter along with he boxing team at Long Bay Jail, Ugly at centre, c. 2008–2009. Picture: Phil 'Ugly Mawson/ Penguin Random House

Reid got a 15-year sentence and became one of Australia’s most protected prisoners for breaking the biker code of silence. While in custody he also incriminated another Gypsy Jokers associate, Gary White, for the 2001 murder of drug dealer Anthony Tapley.

“To top it all off, someone firebombed the Ora Banda Hotel in 2019 and it burnt down. I don’t know who did that. If it was anyone from the club, no one’s told me about it and I haven’t heard any rumours. I’m bloody curious, though,” Mawson wrote.

Ugly – A Bikie’s Life by Phillip Mawson, Paul Fenech and Jordan King-Lacroix is available 31 August, $34.99

Originally published as Bikie boss on murder of police chief: ‘Things turned more violent than we intended’