DEPRESSION MED: Man Makes Bomb Threat Against Elementary School: Austra…

Paragraph six reads: “Ling’s defence counsel told Justice Shan Tennent his client had suffered serious injury to his back and was now on a disability pension and dealing with depression.”

Paragraph eleven reads: “Your grievance with the school was a relatively minor matter but your health problems and the medication you take can largely explain why you acted in a disproportionate manner.

http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2009/06/29/81571_indepth-scalesofjustice.html

No jail for bomb threat
HELEN KEMPTON

June 29, 2009 12:12pm

A MAN who threatened to blow up his daughter’s school has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Ryan David Ling, 34, of Devonport, pleaded guilty to one count of making a false threat of danger in relation to a phone call he made to the Education Department in March.

The court heard Ling had made the threat after an argument over school starting times had got out of hand.

Nixon St Primary School, in Devonport, was put into lockdown after the threat was made.

Ling was arrested 30 minutes after he made the phone call.

Ling’s defence counsel told Justice Shan Tennent his client had suffered serious injury to his back and was now on a disability pension and dealing with depression.

“The threat was at odds with his past level of involvement with the school,” Ling’s defence counsel said.

“It was said on impulse and was an empty, idle threat.”

Justice Tennent said Ling’s behaviour was completely unacceptable.

“Teachers and other staff were concerned with not only their own safety but the safety of children at the school,” she said.

“Your grievance with the school was a relatively minor matter but your health problems and the medication you take can largely explain why you acted in a disproportionate manner.

“There is no suggestion you had the means to carry out the threat and you have consented to the terms of a 12-month restraint order with the school.”

Ling was sentenced to five months’ jail, supsended on the condition he be of good behaviour for two years.

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