Alleged Bicycle Bandit Kym Allen Parsons had robbery documents, bullets at his house, court hears

The alleged Bicycle Bandit remains a threat because he stashed guns and thousands of bullets in his home, a court has heard. But his lawyer says that’s “utter nonsense”.

Kym Allen Parsons, who police allege is the notorious Bicycle Bandit. Picture: Nine News

The terminally ill alleged Bicycle Bandit is still a threat because he had robbery planning documents and PVC pipes hiding guns and 4000 bullets in his brand-new home, a court has heard.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court was asked to intervene and overturn former SA Police officer and MFS firefighter Kym Allen Parsons’ successful bid for home detention bail.

Prosecutors said any compassion for Mr Parsons’ cancer – treatment for which is being paid for, the court heard, by the MFS – must be balanced against his alleged victims’ “real trauma”.

They said police found had “documents relating to planning robberies”, guns and 4000 rounds of ammunition hidden in PVC tubes around his home, which he purchased 10 months ago – pointing to “a very real risk” he will reoffend.

They promised “swift justice”, saying evidentiary processes were being expedited so Mr Parsons, who the court has heard only has months to live, could skip the Magistrates Court entirely and be tried by the District Court before he dies.

David Edwardson KC, for Mr Parsons, dismissed the prosecution’s submissions, saying they were “so far from the truth, it’s not funny”.

“The notion my client poses a risk to the community is rank speculation and utter nonsense, not supported by any evidence whatsoever,” he said.

“As for ‘swift justice’ … trying to force this man to trial, given his medical conditions, is absurd in the extreme.

“The position taken by the prosecution is inhumane and appalling … they are going to deny this man his right to a fair trial by trying to fast-track his trial.

“Whatever wishes the prosecution may have, the plain fact of the matter is that (an expedited trial) is never going to happen, and it’s an obvious abuse of process.”

A CCTV image of the Bicycle Bandit with a riffle. Picture: SA Police

Police have linked 11 bank robberies with the Bicycle Bandit. Picture: SA Police

Mr Parsons, 73, of O’Sullivan Beach, was arrested and charged with 10 counts of aggravated robbery using a firearm and one count of attempted aggravated robbery.

Prosecutors alleged he was the Bicycle Bandit who robbed 11 banks between May 2004 and September 2014, stealing more than $250,000.

They opposed his release on bail, saying he was found in possession of the assault rifle used in the robberies and $272,000 in silver bullion, and may destroy evidence.

Mr Parsons’ counsel said their client had stage 4 cancer and needed to be bailed to continue receiving both medical treatment and palliative care.

Prosecutors, however, said Mr Parsons was terminal during the final five robberies – including the most violent of them all – showing he may reoffend if released.

Weapons that police say were found at the house of Kym Allen Parsons after his arrest. Picture: SA Police

On Thursday, prosecutor Darren Evans said bail should be overturned given the ongoing fear of the alleged victims “who were simply doing their jobs”.

The Bicycle Bandit had, he said, told some of his victims that they “would go down if I go to jail”.

“Police have recently spoken to many of the alleged victims, and their interviews speak to trauma across the board,” he said.

“If Mr Parsons were to be released and another robbery were to occur, it would be a disastrous outcome for the community and have a devastating impact on the many victims.”

He said police had already established Mr Parsons was “off shift” at the time of each of the robberies.

Mr Parsons’ house, he said, was purchased in January and found to contain seven firearms including a rifle matching the “distinctive” gun used in the robberies, bullets and robbery planning documents.

He said Mr Parsons had surrendered firearms to police in the past “but held on” to the one matching the robberies.

“These cannot be things that have sat around the house and been forgotten about, because he only just bought the property and just moved in,” he said.

Prison Health Services had assessed Mr Parsons, he said, and found him to have “no infirmity nor immobility” despite his illness – meaning, he argued, he remained a risk to the community.

“He was diagnosed with kidney cancer during the period of the robberies … if that did not stop him then, why would it stop him now?” he said.

Justice Anne Bampton said she wanted to hear further evidence regarding Mr Parsons’ illness and treatment regime, and remanded him in custody until Monday for further hearing.