Dennis Basic jailed for bashing a police horse and throwing a traffic bollard at a mounted officer
A former bikie has been sentenced for his “cowardly” and “unprovoked” attacks at anti-lockdown rallies in Melbourne.
Police & Courts
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A former Hells Angel bikie who violently assaulted police at two separate anti-lockdown protests has been jailed for his “cowardly” and “unprovoked” attacks.
Dennis Basic, 42, bashed a police horse in the face with a flagpole and threw a traffic bollard at a mounted officer nearly causing her to fall off during two “Freedom” rallies in Melbourne’s CBD.
At the County Court on Tuesday, Judge Douglas Trapnell described Basic’s conduct as “dangerous, unprovoked and completely lawless”.
“Your offending … involved aggressive and violent behaviour,” he said.
“The police were the target in all instances which increases your culpability.”
Judge Trapnell said Senior Constable Christine Brown, who was struck in the back of the head with a traffic bollard while mounted on a horse, was “particularly vulnerable” because she couldn’t see her attacker.
“This was a cowardly and unprovoked attack on a mounted police officer who was performing her duty by a person who shouldn’t have even been there,” Judge Trapnell said.
In October 2020, Basic took part in an anti-lockdown rally at the Shrine of Remembrance attended by up to 2000 protesters.
The crowd made their way towards the city via St Kilda Road but were met by a barricade of police on Princes Bridge.
Body-worn footage showed Basic wearing a black balaclava, a ‘Free Palestine’ T-shirt and holding a flag with the word ‘Resist’ when he got into a scuffle with a cop.
Basic was repelled backwards but continued yelling obscenities before another protester picked up the officer’s cap and threw it into the air.
Minutes later, Basic whacked a flagpole onto the face of a police horse before fleeing into the crowd.
Police arrested Basic at his Narre Warren home after recognising his tattoos and a distinctive scar on his stomach and charged him with assaulting an emergency worker and animal cruelty.
He was granted bail but the following year, Basic attended another rally in the CBD where he threw the traffic bollard at Senior Constable Brown.
Basic’s defence barrister, Oliver Smith, said his client attacked police because he was fearful, but Judge Trapnell disagreed.
“Your counsel submitted you were fearful, I reject that submission,” he said.
“Your attacks on two police officers and a police horse in two separate incidents over nine months apart shows a continued disrespect of the law.”
Basic pleaded guilty to multiple charges including assaulting two police officers, recklessly causing injury and animal cruelty.
Judge Trapnell said Basic’s prior convictions, including jail stints for violent offences, showed “continuing disobedience” of the law.
But he acknowledged Basic’s strong family support and employment history increased his rehabilitation prospects.
Judge Trapnell sentenced Basic to 26 months and 14 days’ jail with a non-parole period of 20 months.
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