Ex-Mongol boss Mark Balsillie spared jail after fiancee helped turn his life around

An influential ex-Mongol has been freed after cutting ties with his gang and making wedding plans with his squeaky-clean fiancee.

Ex-Mongols boss Mark Balsillie has been spared jail after he admitted to trafficking cocaine. Picture: David Crosling

Former bikie boss Mark Balsillie, who admitted trafficking cocaine, has been gifted an early birthday present after he was spared jail on the eve of his 38th.

The ex-Mongols sergeant-at-arms was sentenced on Monday to a three-year community correction order after County Court Judge David Brookes accepted he had undergone “genuine reformation” since his arrest.

Balsillie, once regarded as an influential figure in the outlaw motorcycle gang, pleaded guilty to trafficking and possessing cocaine that was found stuffed in a box of Just Right cereal in his Melbourne apartment in 2020.

The court heard the reformed bikie was living a “reckless and unsettled lifestyle” at the time but had turned his life around largely due to the positive influence of his fiancee.

“She’s never been in trouble with the law, she’s never had any problems with alcohol, other drugs or gambling,” Judge Brookes said.

“(She) was fully aware of your current legal situation and has remained supportive of you.”

On July 31, 2020, police seized 127g of cocaine hidden inside a cereal box, encrypted mobile phones and syringes filled with growth hormone and testosterone inside Balsillie’s apartment.

Mark Balsillie with fellow ex-Mongol Toby Mitchell.

More cocaine was found in zip lock bags in the kitchen and on a ceramic plate in the oven.

Judge Brookes said efforts to hide the drugs were “simplistic”.

Balsillie was at the time snorting two grams of cocaine a day for pain management after he was shot seven times in the arms, legs and stomach in October 2017.

Judge Brookes accepted the ex-bikie was also suffering post-traumatic stress disorder and was “overly cautious” following the shooting, for which no one was ever charged.

Balsillie admitted to a psychologist the breakdown of his marriage further amplified his hedonistic lifestyle and he was trafficking cocaine to support his addiction.

But his lawyers contended he had turned over a new leaf by abstaining from drugs for more than two years, disassociating with the Mongols and by making plans to wed his fiancee in November.

Balsillie also no longer suffered flashbacks to the shooting and had improved his relationship with his ex-wife who he shared two daughters with.

“I’m impressed with myself, having stayed away from coke since my arrest,” he said.

“Overall life is going well.”

Judge Brookes sentenced Balsillie to a three-year CCO and ordered him to undergo treatment for mental health and drug addiction.

He was also ordered to perform 150 hours of unpaid community work.