Gavin Preston used social media to attack enemies while in prison

Gavin Preston told former Tigers player Jake King “you thinking you’re a gangster is like me ... having a kick on the MCG”, in a series of social media missives sent from prison.

Gavin “Capable” Preston used social media to attack his enemies and deny major crimes during his most recent prison stretch.

A series of Facebook posts from 2017, in which he railed against fellow criminals and a former AFL footballer from inside Barwon Prison, showed he never held back on those he hated most, even on the inside.

Chief among those foes was veteran armed robber Christopher Dean Binse, who at one stage had used a vehicle tracking device to follow Preston around Melbourne, allegedly with murderous intent.

He labelled Binse a “goose”, accusing him of stalking his wife while Preston was behind bars for the murder of Adam Khoury in 2012.

“He talks that much shit, the filth didn’t even charge him,” he wrote at the time.

“All he ever did was stalk my wife, and take photos of her once I was in jail and he felt safe.

“I never saw the goose out there once.”

He then took aim at ex-Tiger Jake King, sending an ominous warning to the former small forward who is close friends with former bikie kingpin Toby Mitchell.

Toby Mitchell (centre) ringside at a boxing match with Jake King (right). Picture: Ian Currie

“Lately I’ve been hearing rumours about you being a gangster about town,” Preston wrote.

“Just some friendly advice little man, the rules are very different to the game you’re used to, there’s a lot more on the line than four points.

“Injuries are a lot more significant than a shoulder re-co (reconstruction).

“If you don’t believe me, just ask your mate... you might end up in situations beyond your imagination.”

Preston backed up that warning, telling King to stay in his lane.

“You thinking you’re a gangster is like me and my mates having a kick on the MCG after the game and then thinking we’re AFL material,” he added.

King in action for the Tigers. Picture: Michael Klein

“Mate, don’t get ahead of yourself.

“And don’t say you haven’t been warned.”

Preston would go on to deny media reports that claimed he and Nabil Maghnie shot Mitchell in Brunswick six years earlier.

“I have continuously been accused by the media of shooting some bloke named Toby Mitchell outside the Bandido Club House in Brunswick,” he stated.

“I just want to set the record straight: I did not shoot Toby... I just wanted to clear that up.”

In other Facebook posts, he denied reports that he had signed on with the Comanchero bikie gang.

While Preston did not have internet access in prison, it’s believed he relayed his thoughts to a friend on the outside who posted them on his behalf.

Gavin Preston in custody. Picture: Hamish Blair

Christopher Binse gestures to the media as he’s led out of the Supreme Court. Picture: AAP

A former friend said Preston knew the 2015 stabbing ambush in which he was severely wounded by a group of inmates – two years before those thoughts were posted online – was inevitable.

By then, Preston had fallen out with his fellow Prisoners of War gang founder Matthew Johnson and had a target on his back.

“He knew it was coming,” the friend said.

Preston – who was released from jail earlier this year – served every minute of his sentence for killing drug dealer Adam Khoury in North Melbourne in 2012.

The friend said he did not want to apply for parole because he knew he would be knocked back and did not want authorities to have that satisfaction.

In any case, he was not uncomfortable in prison, despite doing extended periods in repressive management units for his own safety and that of others.

“He could do time. It was no big deal... he could do it easily,” the ex-friend said.