Bomb threats a ‘cry for help’
A man called Labour’s Timaru Rangitata electorate office and made bomb threats in a desperate bid to get medication for his chronic fatigue, his lawyer told a court at sentencing.
Robert Alex Wills made three threatening calls on the morning of October 23 to Rangitata MP Jo Luxton’s office within 25 minutes, claiming he would kill himself and others with a bomb if they did not help him get medication.
Wills, 23, was sentenced to 12 months’ supervision when he appeared before Judge Tom Gilbert in the Timaru District Court yesterday, having pleaded guilty to threatening harm to people or property.
In a summary of facts, police prosecutor Sergeant Ian Howard said Wills made the first of his three threatening calls at 9.25am.
‘‘During the phone call, the defendant told the [staff member who answered] he was going to set off a timed explosive device, killing himself and others.’’
Wills stated he needed the staff member’s help to obtain some medication, Howard said.
‘‘He did not make mention of the whereabouts of the explosive device.
‘‘After the complainant began probing the defendant for information regarding his location, the defendant ended the call.’’
Wills was arrested and taken into custody later that day.
When questioned by police, he admitted threatening to blow up himself and others – stating ‘‘he wasn’t going to stop until he received the medication that he believed he was entitled to’’, Howard said.
Wills, who had not previously appeared before the court, was granted bail by Judge Dominic Dravitzki four days later.
Defence lawyer Jay Lovely said Wills developed chronic fatigue four years ago, dashing his dreams of becoming a judo champion. He had been working towards his black belt, and just come home from a national competition in Japan at the time.
‘‘His life was motoring, then things started falling apart,’’ Lovely said.
‘‘He’s never been prescribed medication. He got sick of doctors telling him, ‘Let’s wait and see,’ for four years.’’
Lovely implored the judge to consider Wills’ actions a ‘‘cry for help’’.
‘‘He’s been through a lot, and he’s upset with the turns his life has taken.’’
Judge Gilbert said Wills’ threatening calls had been ‘‘distressing’’ for the staff member dealing with them.
‘‘She wasn’t to know you weren’t serious, or capable, of carrying out the threats,’’ the judge said.
‘‘You don’t have a lot of insight into the harm and upset you caused through your actions.
‘‘Your behaviour was completely unacceptable and inappropriate, but your health issues do provide some context.’’