‘Cowardly’ bikie in court after bouncer threatened with rifle

A Mongols bikie who allegedly used a rifle to threaten a bouncer in Melbourne committed a "cowardly use of force" according to senior police.

Matthew Benvenuto, 27, and a group of friends were denied entry to the Secret Garden bar on Fitzroy St, St Kilda, at about 1am today.

But the group allegedly forced their way onto the premises and when asked to leave a second time Benvenuto, a patched member of the Mongols bikie gang, threatened a bouncer with a sawn-off rifle.

Police were called and the group fled to an underground carpark where officers, approaching with weapons drawn, arrested them and confiscated a gun and two knives.

Benvenuto appeared in court today charged with being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

He was remanded in custody.

"They pose a significant threat to the community, these groups," Assistant Commissioner Stephen Fontane said.