Former Bandido Joshua Wyllie fined for wearing colours in public
Tasmania’s controversial anti-bikie laws are being tested in the courts as bikers are charged with consorting and wearing their club colours. Here’s the latest to face court >>
North West Coast
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A FORMER Bandido biker has become one of the first to be sentenced for breaking Tasmania’s controversial anti-bikie laws.
In 2018 anti-consorting laws designed to combat outlaw motorcycle gangs gaining a foothold in Tasmania passed through state parliament.
It followed legislation passed to outlaw motorcycle gang members from wearing colours — or club insignia — in public.
Joshua Michael Wyllie, 34, of East Devonport on Friday pleaded guilty to a charge of wearing a prohibited item — a T-shirt with the Bandido’s colours on it — while at a Cradle Mountain hotel in 2020.
The Devonport Magistrates Court court heard Wyllie also abused police when they approached him.
Wyllie pleaded not guilty to a charge of consorting.
That matter will return to court in January with police under instruction to provide better particulars to support the charge.
Magistrate Duncan Fairley was told Wyllie is no longer a member of the outlaw motorcycle club and he took that into consideration as he handed down a global fine of $1500 for the wearing a prohibited item charge and five other charges including drug possession and stealing electricity.
His lawyer Stephen Wright told Magistrate Fairley that Wyllie had not known the extent of what being a member of an outlaw motorcycle club involved when he was invited to join.
“He didn’t realise what came with being in a club and it caused him more court appearances than he wanted,” Mr Wright said.
Wyllie also pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing a controlled drug.
The court heard Wyllie was at the Bandido’s East Devonport clubhouse in June 2019 when a police raid uncovered 31 ecstasy tablets.
The court heard a forensic examination revealed Wyllie’s DNA was on the packaging.
He also pleaded guilty to stealing electricity. The charge relates to a time when Wyllie was renting a house in Ambleside.
The power was cut off due to the non payment of Aurora Energy bills.
While an electrician was sent to disconnect cabling at the house, the cabling had been reconnected by Wyllie and $400 worth of power stolen.
He was ordered to compensate Aurora Energy for that power usage.
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