A Victorian man jailed over his “key” role in the kidnapping of Lakes Entrance man Bradley Lyons amid child abuse rumours has launched a legal fight to reduce his “stern” prison sentence.

Nick Stefani, 29, appeared before the Victorian Court of Appeal on Monday afternoon, where he applied to the court to have his sentence reviewed.

He was jailed for 10 years with a non-parole period of eight in December last year after pleading guilty to kidnapping, false imprisonment, assault and intentionally causing injury.

Sentencing Stefani, Justice Andrew Tinney found he was an “important figure” in the recruitment and planning of the attack, engaging in “brutal and frightening” vigilante justice.

Stefani was one of four men who stormed into the home of Mr Lyons, a 30-year-old father of three, on December 2, 2018, violently attacking him as he rested in bed.

He was beaten, tied up and placed in the boot of a co-offender’s car, before being taken to a remote farm where the perpetrators planned to extract a confession.

Mr Lyons was later found buried in a shallow bush grave near Double Bridges in Victoria’s east after being shot in the head, although Stefani was not alleged to have been involved in his death.

Justice Tinney’s judgment stated there was no evidence to support the claims Mr Lyons had abused children.

In court, Stefani’s barrister, Dr Theo Alexander, said his client was appealing on a “fairly confined” issue, arguing Justice Tinney made a mistake by setting his non-parole period at 80 per cent of his total sentence.

Our basic contention is there is no explanation provided by His Honour,” he said.

“That 80 per cent figure invites scrutiny … there is no absolutely clear justification for the non-parole period.”

Dr Alexander told the court his client was a young man of 24 when the offending occurred and had taken significant steps to rehabilitate himself while in custody.

He conceded Stefani’s involvement and instigation of the “vigilante justice” was serious, but said he held the misguided view Mr Lyons was to be dumped at a police station after confessing.

The court was told there is no set rule for judges to follow when fixing a non-parole period, but a period exceeding about 75 per cent of the total sentence handed down without an explanation could be grounds to appeal.

Representing the crown, barrister Angela Moran said there was no authority requiring a judge to comment on fixing parole periods.

She said the crown would argue the sentence imposed was appropriate and unremarkable.

“Noting the viciousness, the planned nature of it... Mr Stefani played a key organisation role in the very disturbing attack on this man,” she said.

Presiding over the case, Justice Kristen Walker reserved her decision on whether to allow the appeal to proceed to a three justice hearing and will deliver her verdict at a later date.

Last month, a Supreme Court jury found Albert Thorn, 58, guilty of murdering Mr Lyons and he is awaiting sentence.

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