Collar bomb hoaxer Paul Peters apologises to victim at parole hearing

The man who put a Sydney teenager through a terrifying ordeal when he locked a fake bomb around her neck has offered a message to his victim.

Almost 10 years after he strapped a fake bomb to the neck of a terrified Sydney schoolgirl, Paul Douglas Peters has publicly apologised to his victim.

Peters has been in custody since he was apprehended by the FBI on August 15, 2011 in Louisville, Kentucky, 12 days after his brazen extortion attempt made headlines across the world.

He may be released on parole next month.

At the close of a public hearing on Friday morning, Judge Mark Marien told Peters he would discover his fate before mid-August.

Peters has been in prison since August 15, 2011 after the brazen extortion attempt.

“If I may just say one thing,” Peters replied. “I’ve never had an opportunity to say in public that …”

Judge Marien cut him off. “Mr Webb of counsel, highly experienced counsel, is appearing for you. I think he’s said all that he can. Have you discussed with him what you wanted to say?”

“It was merely a deep-founded apology to (the victim), that’s all,” Peters said.

The State Parole Authority (SPA) last month signalled it intended to release Peters on parole, but the state has asked the decision be delayed.

At Friday’s hearing, Judge Marien grilled crown solicitor Cameron Gardiner on why Peters should stay behind bars and undergo another psychiatric evaluation.

In the tense exchange, Judge Marien repeatedly questioned the “utility” of another report, given the judge who sentenced Peters in 2012 found his mental condition did not drive him to commit the collar bomb hoax.

The teenager had the fake bomb around her neck for 10 hours before police determined it contained no explosives. Picture: NSW Police

At sentencing Peters was thought to have bipolar disorder; a subsequent report suggested he has narcissistic personality traits.

All three psychiatrists who assessed him before sentencing described his mental presentation as “complex”, Judge Marien said.

The judge added a 2016 report said Peters’ diagnosis would likely “continue to divide psychiatrists”.

Mr Gardiner said his mental state was relevant to his ongoing risk.

The SPA will hand down its decision before Peters’ non-parole period expires on August 14.

His 18-year-old victim was studying for her HSC exams on the afternoon of August 3, 2011, when Peters broke into the Mosman family home armed with a baseball bat and wearing a balaclava.

He entered the teenager’s bedroom, saying “I’m not going to hurt you” before securing a black box – later discovered to be a gun safe – around the her neck with a bicycle lock.

He then placed a purple lanyard around her neck containing a USB stick and a plastic document sleeve with a typed letter in it, told her to count to 200, and vanished.

The black box would stay locked to the teenager’s neck for the next 10 hours until bomb disposal experts finally determined no explosives were inside.

Police were unable to nab Peters before he caught a flight from Sydney to Los Angeles on August 8.

He then travelled on to Kentucky, where he was arrested by FBI agents seven days later.

Peters was extradited to Australia and pleaded guilty to an offence of aggravated break, enter and detain for advantage.

He was sentenced in 2012 to 13 years and six months’ prison, with a non-parole period of 10 years.

Originally published as Collar bomb hoaxer Paul Peters apologises to victim at parole hearing