Australia- Scott Gregory Phillips, 31, pleaded guilty in the District Court in Brisbane to one count each of torture and robbery of Daryl Jay Irwin, and causing grievous bodily harm to, and entering the dwelling of, Daniel George Atkinson, all on January 21, 2002.

At the time of his arrest Phillips had a million-dollar company, Internet Billing Services, and operated a porn site, pinkbits.com.

When Phillips was bailed on a surety of $20,000 in 2002, the man who put up the money was Gregory Shiraz Lasrado, himself a wealthy porn king at the time, but now facing a heroin possession charge.

Prosecutor Todd Fuller told Phillips’ sentencing hearing today that Irwin and Atkinson had broken into Phillips’ Mt Nebo home in late December 2001, and stolen various items including cheque books.

Mr Fuller said Irwin was a friend of a former business associate of Phillips and had committed the burglary to steal property which may or may not have belonged to his friend.

Phillips tracked Irwin down and armed with a knife, abducted him from his workplace at a Coles supermarket in Sunnybank on Brisbane’s southside.

Phillips then took him to his Mt Nebo home, tied him to a chair, with tape, rope and a belt.

“He then placed a plastic shopping bag over his head and held his nose to stop him breathing,” Mr Fuller said.

Phillips also bashed Irwin around the head and knees with a bat and punched and threatened him during an interrogation where he forced him to give details about his family.

Phillips then drove Irwin to his office at Milton and forced him to lure Atkinson there on the phone.

He attacked Atkinson with bolt cutters and repeatedly kicked and punched him forcing him to sign over his motorcycle.

Phillips ransacked Atkinson’s home, taking items to offset his losses and took the pair to a Cash Converters store to try and retrieve some of his pawned stolen goods.

He then dumped them at a police beat at Sunnybank, giving his details with an officer before leaving.

The sentencing hearing before Judge Warren Howell was adjourned to resume on April 28 and Phillips, who did not apply for bail, was remanded in custody.