TV producer details horror moment Roberta Williams tied a cord around his neck

A TV producer has detailed the horror moment Roberta Williams tied a cord around his neck as her wannabe gangster cronies circled in a brutal extortion.

A reality TV producer has detailed the horror moment Roberta Williams tied a cord around his neck as her wannabe gangster cronies circled around in a brutal extortion that left him bruised, battered and bloodied.

Speaking exclusively to the Sunday Herald Sun, Ryan Naumenko said he feared for his life — and the life of his family — when he was ambushed by the gangland widow and five men at Cloakroom Media in Collingwood in July 2019.

“I actually thought I was going to die,” Mr Naumenko said.

“I was thinking of my family and my life and all the things I’ve done. I didn’t think I was going to see my kids again.”

Throughout the three-hour onslaught, the father of two was tied to a chair, threatened with a handgun and repeatedly punched and kicked.

Ryan Naumenko, 36, went public with the allegations against Williams last month. Picture: Seven News

Ryan Naumenko said he feared for his life when he was ambushed by the gangland widow.

The first blow, he said, came to his right cheek, from Jake Sexton.

Quickly after, James Harrison, with his gold bracelet wrapped around his knuckles, whacked him to the mouth.

“I fell to the ground, and then was kicked and punched,” Mr Naumenko said.

“All I heard was Roberta screaming, ‘kill the c---, he has nothing, kill the dog c---!”.

With his vision shaky and blurry, he stumbled to his feet, only to have a gun pointed at him and told to sit down.

“I was frantic, panicked, could barely breathe — blood was gushing from my mouth,” he said.

“Then Roberta came up behind me and wrapped an extension lead around my neck. She was saying, ‘I’m going to kill him now’.”

He said he was not only threatened with his life, but told if he didn’t give them money they would tell police he attempted to rape Williams’ daughter, Dhakota.

Mr Naumenko had found himself in this precarious position after reaching out to Williams on Instagram only two months earlier about doing a “mob wives” reality show on her life.

The former wife of slain drug lord Carl Williams had agreed, thinking she was going to make millions.

Roberta Williams leaves Melbourne Magistrates Court. Picture: Mark Stewart

Jake Sexton leaves the County Court in Melbourne after his sentencing hearing with co-accused Roberta Williams. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

But within days of filming at a Hampton apartment, Williams and Cloakroom Media boss Daniel De Silva became nervous they had been scammed as Mr Naumenko was stalling giving them any cash, as promised.

Photos taken during filming show Williams’ daughter Dhakota at a table, a clapperboard nearby with the title “The lives of gangland wives” and De Silva listed as the producer.

Mr Naumenko thought he was going to the studio to be shown a show reel the night he was ambushed in scenes reminiscent of a Hollywood movie.

Harrison is a long-time family friend of Williams, who considers him like a son.

That’s why when she asked him to help stand over Mr Naumenko, he did not hesitate.

He then enlisted mates Sexton, 27, and Al Zwainy, 26, for more muscle.

Mr Naumenko, now 39, wanted to speak out about what really happened on that July 9 night after he was “disgusted” his attackers walked free from the County Court on Friday.

None of them have been punished with jail.

“It’s unjust,” he said. “The justice system in Victoria is completely and utterly broken.”

CCTV still of Roberta Williams in a police interview. Supplied

Williams, who pleaded guilty to blackmail and recklessly and intentionally causing injury, was punished with a 24-month Community Correction Order, with no community work condition because recent hand surgery would not allow her to pick up rubbish or scrub graffiti off walls.

Her plea was on the basis that she did not participate in any physical acts of violence.

Mr Naumenko was angered Williams was able to make a plea deal so “watered down”.

“There were text messages from her laughing about when she put the cord around my neck, so the evidence was there,” he said.

Not shying away from his own criminal background, he said he had been jailed for far less.

“I did some stupid things a few years ago, but nothing like that,” he said, referring to his extensive rapsheet that includes jail stints for mostly dishonesty offences.

“I paid my victims back when I did my stupid stuff — I still did jail for it.”

For months after his terrifying ordeal, Mr Naumenko said he was constantly looking over his shoulder.

His face was so swollen in the days after the attack, his family barely recognised him.

He now says he is reminded of the incident daily when he looks in the mirror.

“I had to get my jaw fully realigned,” he said. “My smile is half drooped down like I’ve had a stroke.

“But I’m just glad it’s over.”