Underworld 'enforcer' may be out by Xmas

Former self-described underworld enforcer and associate of Michael Ibrahim, Rodney "Goldie" Atkinson, could be released from prison in time for Christmas following a successful appeal.

Atkinson was sentenced to a minimum of seven years and a maximum of 11 years last April after police discovered a Ruger pistol fitted with a silencer and a loaded Colt pistol at his home in 2009.

But on Friday, Atkinson successfully overturned his sentence, making him eligible for parole on December 23.

The Court of Criminal Appeal noted Atkinson had described himself as "the enforcer", telling a forensic psychiatrist: "I made it happen. If told to enforce, it was my job, freelance work".

One of the undoubted features of his methods, it said, was the use of threats which needed to be taken seriously.

In a series of telephone conversations intercepted by police in September 2009, Atkinson talks about purchasing a gun for the job, dubbing the weapon as "girl", "slut" and "dirty slut".

In one call Atkinson says he would prefer to sell his gun and get a "nice girl for special occasions", adding, "You know what I mean, if we have a party ... or a buck's night or something, f***in' pull her out".

Atkinson then texts Michael Ibrahim to the effect that he found a weapon for $7000 and wanted the money transferred to his account.

However, in re-sentencing Atkinson to a minimum of five years and three months, the court said he should have received a greater discount for his early guilty plea.

It also found more weight should have been given to Atkinson's dysfunctional and abusive background, with the court hearing he had a history of drug abuse, had moved out of home by the time he was 16 and had used crack cocaine since 2006.

It comes after the 34-year-old, along with Fadi Ibrahim and his brother Michael Ibrahim, were acquitted in 2012 of conspiring to murder nightclub owner John Macris.

The crown had alleged the trio planned to kill Mr Macris in 2009 because they believed he was responsible for gunning down Fadi Ibrahim outside his Castle Cove home in Sydney's north in June of that year.

When police searched Atkinson's home in 2009 they found a bag containing two photographs of Mr Macris, as well as a police identification badge, wallet and a pair of latex gloves.