Reparation ordered for bomb prank

A JUDGE has chastised a man who joked about a bomb being in his bag at Invercargill Airport, describing his actions as ‘‘remarkably stupid’’.

Truck driver Stewart George Dempsey (58), of Napier, appeared by audio visuallink yesterday in the Invercargill District Court.

He pleaded guilty to two charges — an amended charge of threatening to damage the airport and breach of his limited driver’s licence conditions.

Police prosecutor Marcus McMahon said on January 22, Dempsey approached Air New Zealand staff before his flight, which was scheduled for later in the afternoon.

When the staff member asked if he had any bags to check in, Dempsey pointed to the bags and made the following comment:

‘‘Yeah, the bags over there, the ones with the bombs in them.’’

Sgt McMahon said immediately after the comment, he started to laugh and stated it was a joke.

However, the airport had to follow its protocols and evacuate the premises — and police, Fire and Emergency New Zealand services and St John were called.

When Dempsey was arrested and taken to the police station, he was asked to produce his driving logbook and within the paperwork, police found his limited licence which forbade him to drive in the South Island.

The police summary of facts says, when questioned he declined to comment about the bomb incident, but when asked about the driving, he commented he did not think about limited licence conditions when he was offered the job to drive a truck to Invercargill.

‘‘He stated it slipped his mind,’’ Sgt McMahon said

Last month, duty lawyer David Slater said the man had been blacklisted from Air New Zealand and banned from the Invercargill Airport following the incident.

Yesterday, defence lawyer Cam Robertson said his client was extremely remorseful about his ‘‘stupid actions’’ and took full responsibility.

Mr Robertson suggested the matter be dealt with by reparation paid to St John as it was the only selffunded service which attended the call.

Disqualification for his client would create hardship, as he was a truck driver and it would affect his ability to earn. However, he was ready to accept the sentence.

Judge John BrandtsGiesen said jokes of this nature were unacceptable in a place like an airport and said his actions were ‘‘remarkably stupid’’.

On the charge of threatening to damage, Judge BrandtsGiesen convicted him and ordered him to pay $500 reparation to St John.

He also convicted Dempsey on the breach of his licence and fined him $400 and suspended him from driving for six months.