AUSTRALIA - Gladiators bashed and tortured Windale man: court l

OFF THE WIRE
POLICE believe three men who bashed and tortured a man with an electronic device in a Windale home were members of the Gladiators Motorcycle Club who were recruited to collect a debt, court documents said.
The owner of the James Street home, Paul Anthony Smith, 37, faced Newcastle Local Court yesterday after he was previously charged with two counts of detaining the man with intent to obtain advantage and causing actual bodily harm.

He has not entered pleas.

The victim was allegedly lured to the home on May 5 when Mr Smith ordered a carton of drinks from him, a police statement said.

Once the victim entered the home he was confronted by three men wearing balaclavas who repeatedly punched, kicked and strangled the victim, the statement said.

One of the men used an electrical device, which stunned the right side of the victim's face and body.

Police allege the victim owed Mr Smith somewhere between $5000 and $20,000 in loans.

Mr Smith's solicitor, Ian Bruce, said the NSW Crime Commission had seized Mr Smith's cash and assets and he was unable to pay his legal fees and did not qualify for Legal Aid. The case was adjourned to October.

http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/news/crime-and-law/gladiators-bashed-and-tortured-windale-man-court/2292311.aspx