September 21, 2011

Bottle 'bomber' back in court for dishonesty

By David Clarkson at Nga Hau e Wha marae

Three years after his jailing, one of Christchurch?s dry-ice bottle bombers has reappeared in court on a dishonesty charge.

Raymond Gary Coombs, 29, admitted a charge of receiving a stolen laptop computer worth $500, intentionally damaging a vehicle wing mirror worth $150, and disorderly behaviour, at a Christchurch District Court session at the Nga Hau e Wha marae today.

The court was told he now realised he had to get to grips with his alcohol problem or it would completely ruin his life.

Judge Colin Doherty discharged him on the disorderly behaviour charge but imposed 80 hours of community work on the other charges, and ordered Coombs to pay for the damage. The laptop was recovered by the police.

In May 2008, Coombs was jailed for two years three months after admitting being part of a group of men who placed a series of dry-ice bombs using plastic soft drink bottles, around Christchurch.

He was ordered to pay $1000 emotional harm reparations to a cleaner at the Bus Exchange who was injured by a bomb he picked up.

Three men were eventually jailed for the dangerous prank.