Ex-butcher charged after allegedly demanding $700K at gunpoint in Perth

Former Perth butcher Craig Christian is facing an extortion charge over allegations he threatened a man at the weekend.

Mr Christian, 54, told 9News he will plead not guilty to demanding $700,000, while allegedly armed with a gun.

“I’ve got a story to tell when I’m allowed to,” he said after being released on bail.

He said the alleged victim had “ripped off a lot of people”, but denied any gun was involved in what police say occurred.

“I’ll plead not guilty because they’re a fabrication,” he said.

A police statement said major fraud officers had “charged two men as a result of an extortion investigation”.

“It is alleged about 4pm on 15 June 2019, the men attended a home in Leederville and threatened a 45-year-old male occupant, demanding property,” the statement read.

“During the incident a woman in her 80s and two children were also at the residence.”

A man called Leonard Robert Langdon was also charged. He was described in the Perth Magistrate’s Court as “muscle for hire”.

Defence lawyer Seamus Rafferty commented briefly on the history of his client, Christian, saying: “One would think things have turned around somewhat”.

Christian is now subject to a violence restraining order and will appear in court again on August 29.