broker lost 230 000 of his life savings

Retiree threatened to blow up units

February 07, 2008
A FRUSTRATED retiree has called in a bomb threat after his broker lost $230,000 of his life savings in a fraudulent deal, a court has been told.

Geoffrey Martin Fryatt, 57, pleaded guilty today in the Brisbane District Court to one count of causing a bomb hoax and two counts of threatening violence.

The court was told the police's special emergency response team was called to Fryatt's Bribie Island unit about 6.30pm (AEST) on May 2 last year after he told them he'd planted a bomb in the building.

The officers evacuated the building of all residents except Fryatt, who eventually came out of the building brandishing a knife and a television remote control.

The court heard he told officers: "One push of the button will blow up half of Brisbane".

Fryatt was restrained and taken to Caboolture Hospital for a mental health assessment but was released later that evening.

The court was told he again threatened police with a knife the following day when they visited his home to discuss the bomb hoax incident.

The court was told the incident was sparked when the former self-employed plumber's broker "fraudulently lost" $230,000 of his $500,000 life savings he had given him to invest.

The court was told Fryatt had tried for 12 months to contact his broker, but was continually "fobbed off".

This, defence lawyer Martin Van Der Walt said, was "the hair (sic) that broke the camel's back".

Judge Julie Dick told Fryatt, who had been drinking heavily in the days leading up to the bomb hoax, his actions were inexcusable.

"Frightening members of the public with threats of bombs and bomb hoaxes has a much greater impact than it once did," she said.

"People are genuinely scared of sudden explosions. It's traumatic."

Fryatt was sentenced to 12 months probation.