A MAN who had previously laid siege to Parramatta’s central business district (CBD) in 2011 also threatened to bomb Housing NSW in Orange’s main street because he was upset about a lack of hot water at his home.
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Albert James Bates was sentenced to two years, seven months and eight days imprisonment in 2011 for a 12-hour siege in which he threatened to blow up himself and his 12-year-old daughter at Arthur Philip Chambers in Parramatta’s CBD.
According to the police charge sheet at the time in 2011, the now 54-year-old told police negotiators he wanted $4500 from the Aboriginal Land Council and access to his solicitor.
Police facts said that because of Bates’s history, staff at the Housing NSW centre in Summer Street feared for their safety when he threatened to do the same to them on Tuesday July 8.
“F---ing fix it before I come back here and do what I did in Paramatta,” he told them.
“It’s f---ing minus 3, it’s f---ing freezing out there.”
After lashing out at the barrier which separated the staff from the public he left the premises without incident.
In Orange Local Court yesterday his solicitor Mick Madden said his client was frustrated that he had to wash his eight children in the sink because the hot water system in his Turner Crescent home was not working.
“He was frustrated it was in the middle of winter,” Mr Madden said.
“He is aware that with his certain reputation he needs to be careful with how he approaches things.”
Bates has a lengthy criminal history which spans years and includes multiple offences of violence.
He was charged with behaving in an offensive manner in public and magistrate, Terry Lucas, fined him $300.
