‘Nasty and degrading’
Judge warns ex-bikie drug kingpin not to reunite with partner
A FORMER bikie drug baron previously convicted and jailed for 13 years over a $4.2m speed business has returned to Gold Coast court.
Charles Edward Cannon, who came to prominence after his drug ring was busted, told his partner to “f*** off back to Melbourne” and threatened to “smash her head in” during an argument in 2019 – after he had spent more than a decade in prison.
Cannon, a former member
of the Finks bikie gang, pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court on Friday to threatening violence and common assault.
Crown prosecutor Stephanie Gallagher said the first incident occurred in 2002 when he slapped the same partner.
That was prior to Cannon being charged as the kingpin of a major drug ring on the Gold Coast and being sentenced in 2005 to 13 years’ prison, the court was told.
After his release, Cannon got into an argument with the same woman in June 2019.
“At one stage he told her to ‘f*** back off to Melbourne’ and said ‘I’ll smash your head through the f***ing wall’,” Ms Gallagher said.
Judge Mcginness fined the 61-year-old $500. Cannon has spent five days in pre-sentence custody.
She described the language Cannon had used as “nasty and degrading”.
Judge Mcginness warned Cannon about trying to contact his former partner.
“You must be very careful … do not reunite with her,” she said.
Defence barrister Michael Bonasia, instructed by Howden Saggers Lawyers, said 2019 was a stressful year for Cannon whose mother had passed away. He said Cannon was also undergoing counselling to help adjust after being released from prison.
Mr Bonasia said before prison Cannon was in the building industry.
In recent years Cannon has described himself as retired but “keeps himself busy” doing developments on property owned by family.
Cannon was first arrested over the drug syndicate in 2003 before being convicted after a trial in 2005.
Two attempts at an appeal, including one in 2013, failed.
Cannon also attempted to fight the state government selling off the assets he had acquired as a part of his drug enterprise.
At one point a Judge estimated the drug business was worth $4.2m.
In May 2015, two luxury catamarans which were seized from Cannon’s home in the early 2000s were sold for $559,000 – a fraction of the $26m the state government was attempting to recoup.