Hells Angel bikie Meyez Elkerdi pleads guilty to weapon inside car

An outlaw bikie banned from owning a firearm told police he needed to arm himself with a baton for ‘self-defence’ because ‘people just don’t fight these days, they shoot people’.

Meyez Elkerdi was sentenced for being in possession of a prohibited weapon without a permit. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A Hells Angel bikie prohibited from owning firearms instead armed himself with a baton for self-defence

Meyez Elkerdi, 31, pleaded guilty in Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday for possessing a prohibited weapon without a permit.

Agreed facts tendered to court detail how police pulled over Elkerdi on August 2 this year after he turned right after not giving way.

The South Coogee man handed police his P-plate licence before checks revealed Elkerdi was subject to a firearms prohibition order.

Officers searched his car to ensure he did not possess firearms.

Meyez Elkerdi said he needed the baton for self protection.

Elkerdi told them there was a baton on the passenger seat and no firearms.

Police seized a 45cm black extendible baton underneath a jacket and bag on the seat.

Officers asked why Elkerdi had the baton.

“I need it for self defence, I’ve a firearms prohibition order from you guys,” he said.

“People just don’t fight these days, they shoot people so you know what, if I carry a baton it might be what saves me, then that’s what I’m going to use.

“I just had it there you know. I don’t have a gun and that’s all I’m going to use.

“Probably not going to do so much, but you know what, it makes me feel a little better.”

Hells Angels bikie Meyez Elkerdi must continue treatment for his drug-induced paranoia. Picture: Facebook

On Tuesday, Elkerdi’s lawyer Ms Gray said her client had the extendible baton for “personal safety” because he was paranoid as a result of his prior meth addiction.

Ms Gray said Elkerdi was working with a psychologist to treat his paranoia and would continue seeking treatment.

She also noted he was now clean from drugs and was unemployed and looking for work in the building industry.

Ms Gray said her client’s partner was supported in court.

She noted he made admissions to police at the time and entered a plea of guilty at the first opportunity.

“He is no choir boy but he was honest in his dealings with police,” Ms Gray said.

“His drug of choice in his heyday was meth. He has successfully weaned himself from the drug.

“It is acknowledged it is a serious offence but not the most serious of prohibited weapons.”

Ms Gray asked Magistrate Hugh Donnelly to impose a fine but he was not persuaded.

Instead he sentenced Elkerdi to a community corrections order for 12 months where he must be of good behaviour, be supervised by community corrections and continue psychology treatment.

Mr Donnelly noted Elkerdi’s criminal history in the past four years included driving and drug crimes and he had previously been sentenced to a jail term.

He said the court must send a message to deter other people from carrying weapons.

Originally published as Hells Angel bikie Meyez Elkerdi pleads guilty to weapon inside car