Former Rebels president Andy Summerfield tied to anti-crime push ahead of Saturday’s rally

The former head of one of Darwin’s most notorious organised crime gangs has become one of the faces of the city’s anti-crime crusade in a dramatic about face ahead of this Saturday’s rally.

Andy Summerfield (centre) pictured with Sade Dobson (second from left) at last month’s anti-crime rally at Parliament House. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The partner of one of the organiser’s of this Saturday’s anti-crime rally in Darwin is also the former head of one of the city’s most notorious organised crime gangs, it can be revealed.

Sade Dobson spoke passionately at the previous rally last month, saying rising crime rates in the Top End were “embarrassing”, and telling the government “we’re all held to account when we do our jobs, and we’re going to hold you to account too”.

But this publication can now reveal Ms Dobson was also pictured at the rally with former Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang president Andy Summerfield, with the pair also featuring prominently together in photos on each other’s Facebook pages.

In December 2017, the former “1%er” — a label adopted by bikie gang members to distinguish themselves from the “99 per cent of law abiding citizens” — was jailed for seven years after ordering a revenge axe attack on an underworld rival.

In sentencing, Justice Jenny Blokland said the beating – which resulted in wounds including a chipped vertebrae and multiple skull fractures – left the victim experiencing frequent flashbacks and “physically incapable of functioning as he did before”.

Former Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang president Andy Summerfield at an anti-crime rally at Parliament House in March. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“He talks about the excruciating pain, that he just wanted to pass out during the attack, he talks about the blood and that he was so scared he thought he was going to die,” she said.

Justice Blokland described Mr Summerfield’s crime as “frightening and confronting offending, motivated by revenge”.

A spokesperson for a Facebook page administered by the organisers of Saturday’s rally said Mr Summerfield had “no involvement with the organisation of the rallies” and was no longer a Rebels member.

“We are proud to have had Andy as part of our family for the past year,” they said.

“He is fully supportive of our mission and is a prime example of completing a sentence, being reformed and becoming a valued member of the community.”

Andy Summerfield is arrested by tactical police for “frightening” offending. Picture: NT Police

In April 2021, Mr Summerfield was convicted of “one of the more idiotic offences” after causing a disturbance at Holtze Prison just over a month after being released on parole for his previous offending.

At the time, Local Court Judge Dick Wallace said the ex-bikie boss had stopped at two accommodation buildings before revving his engine and yelling at inmates.

“This is one of the more idiotic offences I’ve ever dealt with,” he said.

“I hope you’ve learnt your lesson, that it won’t happen again.”