Groundsman charged over fake bombs in parks
A MAN arrested for allegedly planting four fake bombs in Hamilton parks is a volunteer firefighter and council parks groundsman.
Interim name suppression for Ngaruawahia man Bradley Taylor, 27, ended yesterday morning when he appeared in the Hamiton District Court.
Taylor is facing four charges of threatening harm to people and property and was granted interim suppression when he first appeared in court last month.
He is a volunteer firefighter in the Waikato and works for the Hamilton City Council as a parks groundsman.
Taylor, who is yet to enter a plea on the charges, is alleged to have been behind a string of fake bombs planted in the women’s toilets at Gower Park and Melville Park in late June.
It was understood Taylor was employed as a city parks worker and was among cleaning contractors, council maintenance staff and security contractors to have access to the toilet blocks outside public hours.
The city council had confirmed earlier that the first fake bomb had been discovered when a staff member went to clean the toilet block at 8.30am.
Hamilton City Council spokesman Lance Vervoort confirmed Taylor is a council employee.
‘‘Taylor has been with the organisation for two-and-half years. Due to the legal aspects of this matter we will be making no further comment while this progresses through court.’’
During Taylor’s last court appearance, before community magistrate Kathryn Wilson, some of the details of the offending were revealed, including that the fake explosive devices had been constructed using several items, including matches, nails and jars of liquid.
The first fake bomb was found perched on piping in the women’s toilets at one of the parks on June 22.
When the second fake device was found in similar circumstances the following day, it was accompanied by a typed note stating: ‘‘I got the wrong one. I’ve got it right now.’’
Police said the alleged deeds had resulted in disruption for the community, cordons around public areas and inconvenience for residents, and the tying up of emergency resources.
This included the Auckland-based Defence Force bomb squad being called to Hamilton four times in the space of just over a week to destroy the fake bombs.
Taylor’s lawyer Kerry Burroughs successfully argued that Taylor be bailed to his parents’ Hamilton home due to his lack of previous convictions and little risk of absconding.
It was a condition of bail that his parents would accompany him on any trips away from the family home.
He will appear again on September 21.