The company you keep: Ex-bikie joined home invasion, assault, now ‘wants to do better’
A young man who helped bikie gang associates flee a violent home invasion in Queensland has told a judge he is now “trying to do better”.
A former member of the Mongrel Mob was involved in an assault and wilful damage of a property, a court has heard. Image: file photo)
Connor Douglas Sinclair-Musa, 21, of Logan, pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court on Thursday to accessory after the fact to robbery in company, and entering a premises and causing wilful damage.
Crown prosecutor David Rigby said the accessory charge related to Sinclair-Musa acting as a driver for a group of recruits for Mongrel Mob War Dogs Brisbane chapter after they assaulted a man and his partner in their home.
Mr Rigby said Sinclair-Musa drove the bikies to a Logan address on September 24, 2021 and they attacked the occupant as he wanted to quit the gang without paying a $5000 fee.
Sinclair -Musa also drove the attackers from the property after they departed with a stolen Xbox video game console.
The wilful damage charge related to Sinclair-Musa breaking into the Flagstone Community College and smashing 155 windows with a golf club or hammer.
Mr Rigby said Sinclair-Musa and unknown co-offenders caused more than $76,000 in damage and left several school buildings unusable.
Sinclair-Musa’s barrister, Amelia Loode, said text messages showed her client was not aware of the true reason he was asked to drive people to the home invasion scene and he did not enter the home or take part in any violence.
“He did have a somewhat disadvantaged upbringing … there was abuse both physical and emotional,” Ms Loode said.
She said her client had yet to be diagnosed but likely suffered from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as well as anxiety and depression.
“He acknowledged making stupid decisions but his struggles in social settings and fear of rejection from his friends led him to go along with their behaviour,” Ms Loode said.
Sinclair -Musa told the court he had “spent the last year trying to change my character … trying to do better with my life”.
Judge Ian Dearden told Sinclair-Musa it was “mind-bogglingly stupid” to smash windows and deprive a community of its school, and he should have known his friends were up to no good after they fled approaching police vehicles while carrying an Xbox.
Sinclair-Musa was sentenced to two years in prison that was suspended with immediate release on a three-year probation order due to him already spending five months in custody.
“I am hopeful, because I am an optimist, that you take this opportunity and do something positive with it,” Judge Dearden said.
