A Comancheros affiliate who participated in a revenge attack on a rival bikie member that involved breaking into his home, firing a gun at the room he was hiding in before dousing his living room in petrol and setting it alight, has been sentenced to seven years and seven months in prison in the ACT Supreme Court.
Christopher Millington, 33, was found guilty of charges of aggravated burglary, arson with intent to danger life, discharging a loaded firearm and attempting to destroy or conceal evidence.
The court heard police had been tracking Millington and through a covert listening device planted in his Mazda 6, heard him discussing revenge plans on former Comanchero associate Alex Miller.
"I want to f*** him up so he has to f***ing live with it," he was recorded discussing with co-accused Aofangatukau Langi.
After police arrested co-accused Langi, police intercepted a call with Millington to a scrap metal company organising to tow and destroy his Mazda 6.
Millington later admitted that this was the car used to attend the scene, the court heard.
Attack was 'motivated by a desire for retaliation'
Evidence tendered to the court suggested Millington wanted to seek revenge on Mr Miller after he publicly admitted to not being a member of the Comancheros and joined a new gang.
The court heard the rivalry between Millington and Mr Miller had been ongoing, with Mr Miller previously driving to Millington's home, dousing his Mercedes Benz in petrol and setting it alight, before sending images to Millington.
Defence lawyers representing Millington said while he would regularly socialise with the Comancheros, he had not officially joined the gang.
They also added that he was $60,000 in debt.
Justice David Mossop said in court that he believed Millington had acted the way he did to seek revenge but accepted that Millington was not proven to be a member of the gang and was not "on the trajectory" to join the group.
"Inter-gang rivalry may have prompted the defendant to act as he did."
"It [the attack] was motivated by a desire for retaliation," Justice Mossop said.
In handing down his sentence, Justice Mossop noted Millington's previous criminal history and said he was responsible for his actions.
"The defender is no longer a young man, he has a criminal history," he said.
He is eligible for parole after four years and two months.
