Cranky old man, 81, mailed bullets and live detonators to Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott

A CRANKY old man, 81, waged a three-year campaign of terror posting explosives and threats to Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott and others.

John Gilbert Gordon

AN 81-year-old Brisbane man waged a three-year campaign of terror by sending explosives and threats to Australian political leaders including Prime Minister Julia Gillard and former Queensland Premier Anna Bligh, a court has been told.

John Gilbert Gordon was today jailed for two-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to a swag of charges including six counts of sending explosive packages, two containing menacing letters and one death threat between November 2007 and November 2010.

Gordon, of Caboolture on Brisbane's northern outskirts, sent 0.22 calibre bullets inserted into live detonators and threatening letters to a number of public officials such as Reserve Bank Governor Glenn Stevens, Federal Opposition leader Tony Abbott, Westpac Bank CEO Gail Kelly, then Brisbane Catholic Archbishop John Battersby, as well Ms Gillard and Ms Bligh.

Judge Brian Devereaux, SC, today said Gordon's "terror campaign" was aimed at venting anger over a number of topical political and social issues - such as the debate over asylum seekers.

Commonwealth prosecutors, in a tendered statement of facts, said Gordon even sent a threat to Brisbane's Virginia Palms Motel when it was revealed they were housing foreigners seeking asylum.

Gordon's letter to the hotel read: "Any motel in Australia who houses (asylum seekers), will bear the bombs and as a result pieces of your motels will land in Canberra."

"We should have sent a bomb with this letter, but that will come later."

In a letter containing a bullet and detonator sent to then Queensland Premier Anna Bligh in October 2009, Gordon said: "The next one is bigger and faster for you and your sons ... easy target ... out or else."

Gordon, in a letter to Tony Abbott in May 17, 2010, said: "We have just successfully injected a deadly poison into the water supply of the motel at Boondall."

"We will wipe all foreigners of Australia soil real soon. Curse them all with an agonizing death. One man shall make 10,000 free."

The court was told Gordon used the Australian Postal Service to deliver a total of two offensive letters, two menacing letters, six explosive packages, one threat to kill and a bomb hoax.

Commonwealth prosecutor Ben Satiu yesterday said the father of two's bizarre campaign involved sending articles to people he blamed for perceived slights against him or people with links to government policies on immigration and education funding.

The court was told Australian Federal Police targeted Gordon as a suspect when they forensically tested the letter to Mr Abbott and noticed an indentation from a previously written letter in which Gordon identified himself.

Barrister Bruce Mumford, for Gordon, said his client now feels both silly and annoyed about the offensive conduct.

"(Gordon) describes his conduct as being in a mood ... a cranky mood," he said.

Judge Devereaux, in sentencing Gordon, said: "You sent explosives through the post six times."

"You conduct is to be condemned by the community.

"Each of the 11 occasions of your abuse of the postal service was very serious."

He ordered Gordon be released, on a $500 good behaviour bond, after serving eight months in custody.