Brett Wilton learns fate for stalking, bomb-hoax charges in Bundaberg

Police found a “crude” attempt at a homemade bomb made out of toilet paper and tape in the Bundaberg man’s home shortly after his arrest.

A Bundaberg man who threatened to blow up a mental-health facility and kill police officers as part of a months’ long domestic-violence tirade has walked free from court.

A Bundaberg man who threatened to blow up a mental-health facility and kill police officers as part of a months’ long domestic-violence tirade has walked free from court.

Brett Wilton, 48, sent a photo of himself holding a “homemade bomb” to a woman known to him, before threatening to kill police officers if they tried to arrest him.

Wilton was slapped with a DVO to protect his victim in May 2020, two months after she was forced to flee from their home after a “series of domestic-violence related issues”.

Judge Michael Byrne told Bundaberg District Court Wilton continued to stalk his victim online and via text messages, with the earliest offending just two days after the DVO.

Wilton sent 116 messages, made eight phone calls, and left two Facebook comments intended to “publicly shame and intimidate the victim”.

Bundaberg’s Brett Wilton, who threatened to blow up a mental-health facility and kill police officers as part of a months’ long domestic-violence tirade, has walked free from the city’s District Court after pleading guilty to five charges.

The messages were described by Crown Prosecutor Annika Fritz as “concerning”, some of which read “you’re a poor excuse for being a mother”.

“Try f***ing me over with the protection order … you disgust me … you’re a nasty piece of work,” the messages read.

“I’m king for a reason, my love.”

Judge Byrne ruled that Wilton’s offending came to a head when he sent a photo of himself holding what he claimed to be a homemade bomb to his victim.

He also sent a message instructing her to watch the news for police casualties if anyone came to arrest him.

Police only went to Wilton’s house after a mental-health facility in Brisbane’s north received a similar threat.

Wilton claimed to have an explosive device that he intended to use at the location if his demands were not met.

Judge Byrne told the court police found 400g of cannabis and a “crude” attempt at a fake bomb made out of toilet paper rolls and tape.

Brett Wilton pleaded guilty at the Bundaberg District Court to charges of stalking and making a bomb hoax, each a domestic violence offence, as well as possessing dangerous drugs, possessing drug utensils, and contravening a domestic violence order.

The court was told Wilton had diagnoses of PTSD, bipolar and anti-social personality disorder, and a victim impact statement claimed he had narcissistic personality disorder.

Wilton described himself in a text message as “teflon” because “nothing would ever stick”, and said he “would claim mental illness and get away with it”.

In court, Wilton’s lawyer submitted he wasn’t of sound mind when the texts were sent.

They submitted Wilton likely experienced drug-induced psychosis during the offending, and a lengthy stay in mental-health court gave him time to seek rehab.

In a victim impact statement, the victim asserts that, despite this, her life is forever altered by his actions over the course of their relationship.

“It’s been four years since charges have been laid,” the statement read.

“I remain feeling worthless and insignificant.”

Wilton pleaded guilty to charges of stalking and making a bomb hoax, each a domestic violence offence, as well as possessing dangerous drugs, possessing drug utensils, and contravening a domestic violence order.

Wilton was sentenced to 18 months in prison and released on immediate parole.