Alleged patched Coffin Cheater Luke Bradley Crawford faces court accused of growing cannabis to sell

A man who police allege is a Coffin Cheater bikie and accused of possessing more than 500g of cannabis plants — discovered by detectives during a raid on properties linked to outlaw motorcycle clubs in Geraldton last month — has had his bail conditions varied. Luke Bradley Crawford, 39, made his first appearance in the Geraldton Magistrates Court via video link from Rockingham courthouse on Thursday, charged with possessing a prohibited plant with intent to sell or supply. He did not enter pleas but defence counsel Kate Fry said he intended to plead not guilty. The court was told Mr Crawford was allegedly in possession of 523g of cannabis plants. In requesting a bail variation, Ms Fry said Mr Crawford wanted to change his 7am-7pm curfew to reporting to the police station because he lived at a property with a long driveway and needed to leave his gate open for police checks. Ms Fry said he was required to keep his dogs tied up or left inside and it was inconvenient and posed a security issue. His curfew was lifted and replaced with reporting to the Rockingham police station every Monday and Friday. Mr Crawford was ordered to not contact any person who is a part of the Coffin Cheater motorcycle gang. The matter was adjourned until Thursday, May 16, for committal mention. It comes after Perth’s gang crime squad, canine section and local detectives raided four properties between January 22 and 26, including the Coffin Cheaters’ Webberton clubhouse, where they previously alleged steroids, cannabis and more than $18,000 cash were located and seized. Mr Crawford was arrested at the scene, along with alleged senior Coffin Cheater member Kain Leigh Boekeman, who is facing a raft of drug charges, including trafficking. Police say they are both patched members of the Coffin Cheaters outlaw motorcycle gang. Police further allege ammunition, firearm parts, drug paraphernalia, methylamphetamine and 11 cannabis plants were found at a Nabawa property and ammunition, cannabis, cocaine, cash, drug paraphernalia were found at a Moresby property, as well as a sophisticated hydroponics set-up in a sea container attached to a shed, where 36 cannabis plants and more than 1.6kg of cannabis material was seized. An associate, Shane Towns, is also facing serious drug charges.