'Cranky' old man jailed for PM bullet mail
2012-07-26 13:02
Brisbane - A "cranky" old Australian man was jailed on Thursday for mailing bullets and detonators to political leaders including the prime minister, bank chiefs and religious figures, reports said.
John Gordon, aged 81, pleaded guilty to 12 charges over the letters, which he addressed to people including Prime Minister Julia Gillard, her predecessor Kevin Rudd and opposition leader Tony Abbott.
Six explosive packages containing bullets and detonators, menacing and offensive letters, a death threat and a bomb hoax were sent by Gordon, whose targets also included central and commercial bank chiefs.
Gordon's lawyer, Bruce Mumford, told the Brisbane District Court that the father-of-two regretted his actions between 2007 and 2010, blaming them on a "cranky mood".
But judge Brian Devereux jailed him for two-and-a-half years, of which he must serve eight months before being released on a good behaviour bond.
Angry over immigration, education
"You sent explosives through the post six times. Your conduct is to be condemned by the community," the judge said, according to a report of the case in the Courier Mail newspaper.
"Your abuse of the postal service was very serious," he added, describing the conduct as "cowardly".
Prosecutors told the court Gordon was found out after forensic analysis of a letter sent to Abbott showed an impression of his name from previous correspondence on the notepad.
In the letter, Gordon claimed to have poisoned the water supply at a motel he believed to be housing refugees, saying: "We will wipe all foreigners off Australia soil real soon. Curse them all with an agonising death".
He was reportedly angered at government policies on immigration and education.
