‘Cowardly’ ex-bikie Dennis Basic jailed for attacking horse and cops at anti-lockdown rallies

A former Hell’s Angels bikie attacked a horse and police during two anti-lockdown protests at the height of the pandemic in Melbourne.

Dramatic footage has emerged of Melbourne man Dennis Basic, who attacked a police officer’s horse with a flagpole during an anti-lockdown rally. He has pleaded guilty to a string of charges. Picture: County Court of Victoria / NCA NewsWire

A former Hell’s Angel who attacked a police horse and launched projectiles at officers during lockdown protests in Melbourne has been jailed.

Dennis Basic will spend two years and two months behind bars after he was sentenced in Victoria’s County Court on Tuesday.

The 42-year-old pleaded guilty to multiple charges including assaulting two police officers, recklessly causing injury, possessing explosives and animal cruelty in relation to two protests in October 2020 and July 2021.

Dramatic footage has emerged of Melbourne man Dennis Basic, who attacked a police officer’s horse with a flagpole during an anti-lockdown rally. Picture: NCA NewsWire

The behaviour was called out as unwarranted and aggressive in the sentence.

“It was also dangerous, unprovoked and completely lawless,” Judge Douglas Trapnell said.

Basic got into a scuffle with a police officer while wearing a balaclava and was captured on bodyworn camera footage pushing the officer, the court was told.

He also appeared to be “gesturing at him [the officer] as if you wanted to fight him”, the judge said.

Basic also waved a flag featuring the word “resist” and used the pole to repeatedly hit a police horse during the rally.

A distinctive scar on his stomach, tattoos and footage from the anti-lockdown event helped police track the man to his Narre Warren South home, where they also uncovered a stash of explosives and other weapons.

Despite being granted bail on conditions he comply with the chief health officer’s directions, Basic turned up at another protest nine months later.

Dennis Basic was jailed for attacking police officers during Melbourne’s anti-lockdown rallies.

The father of two again attacked a mounted police officer, throwing a weighted bollard at the policewoman.

“It was a cowardly and unprovoked attack on a mounted police officer performing her duties,” Judge Trapnell said.

The former bikie showed a continuing disregard for the law and a disrespect for those who enforced it, the judge said.

The court was told Basic had serious prior convictions, including a five-year sentence for armed robbery, and also had prior assault convictions.

He must serve at least 20 months behind bars before he is eligible for parole.