Former bikie became ‘raging’ addict after leaving gang

Laine Clark | March 23, 2023

Three days before his driving ban expired, ex-bikie Bowie Sheng Papa reached speeds of almost 200km/h on a major highway under the influence of drugs.

When police caught up with him north of Brisbane in March 2022, they asked about the large hunting knife wedged into the side of his motorcycle.

“He later indicated that the knife was there because people were out to get him,” prosecutor Tom Winks told Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday.

About four years earlier, Papa had cut ties with an outlaw motorcycle gang.

“My client has been the victim of some significant violence and significant threats as a consequence of his decision to leave that club,” defence lawyer Mollie Roper said.

Struggling to cope, Papa suffered a “raging addiction” to methamphetamine.

Papa was under the influence when he was spotted entering Gympie Road in Murrumba Downs at speed about 8.30pm in March 2022.

His motorcycle appeared to sway and moved into another lane almost hitting another vehicle, reaching 136km/h in a 100 zone.

Police followed an unaware Papa, who accelerated up to 197km/h.

He swayed from side to side and almost collided with a guard rail before moving into another lane, narrowly missing the back of a truck.

Papa accelerated away at more than 180km/h, cutting across three lanes to leave the highway before police found him parked at a nearby store.

A “jittery” Papa could not produce a licence and police found it had been disqualified for six months, a ban set to expire in three days.

They located the knife with a 20cm blade “in a position suitable for easy access” on his motorbike, along with drug utensils and 4.612 grams of pure meth stashed in his helmet.

Papa had significant safety concerns and made a mid-2022 application with his parole officer to relocate to Western Australia where he has family, friends and a job offer but it was refused, the court heard.

Papa later breached bail when he failed to report and police were unable to locate him.

He also failed to appear in court in September 2022 and was later extradited from WA.

Papa told police he had left Brisbane to “escape the scene in which he was involved”.

Since the extradition Papa had significant difficulty and was physically assaulted in Queensland custody due to his decision to leave the bikie gang, Ms Roper said.

Papa had a difficult childhood and had become involved with the gang, with much of his criminal history occurring during that time, she said.

The 34-year-old had a five-page criminal and eight-page traffic history.

He pleaded guilty to seven charges including dangerous operation of a vehicle while being adversely affected by an intoxicating substance.

His offending breached a suspended sentence.

Magistrate Julian Noud sentenced Papa to 18 months in jail, with an immediate parole release date, declaring 210 days in custody time served. 

Papa was disqualified from driving for two-and-a-half years.