Rebels bikie ‘wanted to be feared’, judge claims
A Rebels bikie who ruled a violent crime ring in Melbourne’s west, “traded on his reputation” as the Sergeant at Arms at the club to instil fear and pressure on others, a court has heard.
Police & Courts
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A bikie enforcer who orchestrated a violent gun and drug trafficking crime ring in Melbourne’s west involving a drive by shooting, arson and fraud, may have done so because he wanted to be feared, a court has heard.
Rebels’ strongman Matthew Bruce, 36, faces life behind bars after he admitted he engaged his twin sister Sarah, girlfriend and his mistress – who is also his girlfriend’s sister – to help carry out his reign of terror between November and February 2019.
Bruce on Monday pleaded guilty to trafficking a large commercial quantity of ice, possessing and attempting to sell numerous high powered firearms on the black market- including a military assault rifle which he stored in a guitar case – organising a Valentine’s Day firebombing attack on two cars and insurance fraud.
And he did so while travelling in his Holden Commodore brandishing the number plates FEARD.
County Court Judge Bill Stuart said the significance of the personalised plates “bothered him”.
“The point I keep coming back to is something that’s perhaps encapsulated by him travelling around in this vehicle with the word FEARD. As if that’s what he wants to be — feared,” Judge Stuart said.
Prosecutor Andrew Grant said while Bruce did not carry out the offending on behalf of his outlaw motorcycle gang, he “traded on his reputation” as the sergeant-at-arms at the club to instil fear and pressure on others.
Judge Stuart said while his other crimes appeared to be motivated by a personal grudge or financial gain, he had so far found no reason for Bruce organising a drive-by shooting at a Melton house that narrowly missed injuring a family sleeping inside.
“To be feared, is for some, an explanation for engaging in criminal conduct at high level for no other reason,” Judge Stuart said.
The investigation by bikie-busting detectives relied on hours of recorded phone conversations, intercepted text messages and tracking devices and resulted in the charging of six people over the crime ring.
On the first day of the Bruce siblings’ pre-sentence hearings, the court heard Bruce regularly texted his twin sister to help him move “keys” (kilos) of ice, telling her “I can move half a kilo in a week easy”.
Judge Stuart said it was “curious” how often people who trafficked drugs discussed their supply and cash flow issues with others.
“I don’t know why they bother using codes,” Judge Stuart said.
Bruce enlisted his girlfriend, Cursty Shields, to film a “promotional video” of him firing an illegal assault rifle, which he wanted to sell, in Wombat State Forest while their one-year-old daughter was present.
Detectives seized seven guns belonging to Bruce.
Sarah Bruce has pleaded guilty to trafficking ice, arson and insurance fraud.
The plea hearing for the Bruce siblings and Shields continues.