‘Standover tactics used after crash’

A patched Rebels MC gang member told two men they each owed the club $1000 and ordered one to surrender his dirt bike following a car crash with other members of the club.

In September 2021, a few days after the crash, Dallas Peeti, with three other members or prospects from the gang, went to the victim’s home in Marton, the Crown summary says.

Peeti demanded the men pay the cash within a month, and told one his dirt bike now belonged to the gang.

That night, three gang members returned to the address, telling the victim they had come for the motorcycle, which he let them to take.

In November 2020, Peeti was one of a group of five Rebels gang members, some armed with metal bars, who went to an address in Marton to take back a Holden Commodore.

Two of the group confronted the victim who was with her 2-weekold baby in her Land Rover and used the weapons to smash panels on the vehicle, causing $1000 in damage, before she reversed down the drive and fled.

On Monday, Peeti appeared before Judge Ian Carter in the Whanganui District Court charged with demanding with menaces and intentional damage. Peeti pleaded guilty to the offending after being given a sentencing indication in September.

Judge Carter said there had been an escalation in tensions between the Rangitīkei chapter of the Rebels and the family of the men involved in the car crash in the months leading up to Peeti’s standover tactics.

Judge Carter adopted a sentencing start point of 161⁄2 months’ imprisonment, but allowed a 20 per cent discount for Peeti’s personal circumstances and 5 per cent for remorse.

Peeti was given credit for the 45 days he spent in custody and the lengthy time on electronically monitored bail, reducing the sentence to two months’ imprisonment.

Judge Carter converted that to two months’ community detention and six months’ supervision. Peeti was ordered to pay $200 reparation to the victim of the intentional damage.