Brady Robert Battese sentenced for bomb threat at Coraki Bowling Club

A Northern Rivers flood hero from the ‘tinny brigade’ called in a fake bomb threat on fellow volunteers because he couldn’t get more grog at the bowlo.

A Lismore flood hero from the ‘tinny brigade’ called in a fake bomb threat on more than 60 people at a bowling club because staff refused to serve him alcohol.

Brady Robert Battese, 30, was convicted at Lismore Local Court on Monday of making a false representation resulting in a police investigation.

Documents tendered to the court reveal the Bora Ridge man had attended a community day at Coraki Bowling Club on March 19, organised for Disaster Relief Australia volunteers who helped the community during the floods that devastated the town.

A large part of the club was set up with camping stretcher beds to accommodate about 60 volunteers from Disaster Relief Australia.

A Lismore flood hero from the ‘tinny brigade’ called in a fake bomb threat on more than 60 people at a bowling club because staff refused to serve him alcohol, a court has heard. Brady Robert Battese, 30, was convicted of making a false representation resulting in a police investigation at Lismore Local Court on Monday, September 19.

About 9pm when the club was shutting and the volunteers were getting ready for bed, Battese asked to be served more alcoholic drinks.

But the bar had been closed and when staff refused him service, Battese became “argumentative”, before reluctantly leaving, agreed facts revealed.

At 9.36pm, Battese called the Coraki Bowling Club, which was diverted to the manager’s phone, using his personal mobile phone number.

“The manager answered the call to hear an intoxicated male voice say ‘I just put a bomb in your female toilets. You are all f--ked’, this call only lasted 11 seconds,” police facts stated.

“As a result of Battese’s call, staff and approximately 60 volunteers from Disaster Relief Australia were forced to evacuate the club and gather on the bowling green until such time the police could attend and clear the club was safe for everyone to return.”

On August 3, police allege they contacted Battese on the phone number he used to make the bomb threat.

Battese attended Evans Head Police station for an interview where he admitted to being at the club earlier in the evening and him “not being happy” with a staff member when he left.

“Battese states he did not have any memory of making the phone call due to his state of intoxication but acknowledged that no one else had or used his phone so it must have been him,” police said in the facts.

Battese pleaded guilty to the charge, and his solicitor, Mr Bell, told the court the accused was “deeply embarrassed” and had received blowback from the community after his “foolish, immature decision”.

He had previously distinguished himself as a member of the ‘tinny brigade’ during the floods, taking food and other supplies to residents via boat when homes were inundated.

Mr Bell told the court Battese has personally apologised to the police and the club owners, and asked for no conviction to be recorded.

However, Magistrate Jeff Linden said the charge was too serious to be dealt with without conviction.

He convicted Battese and sentenced him to an 18-month conditional release order to be of good behaviour.