Kym Allen Parsons pleads guilty to 10-year armed robbery spree, admits he is Bicycle Bandit, after winning right to die

The 20-year mystery of the Bicycle Bandit has finally been solved – with the armed robber taken into custody after apologising to the people he terrorised. You can read his full statement here.

The notorious, terminally ill “Bicycle Bandit” who terrorised the state for a decade will spend what remains of his life in jail, after a court rejected his final plea for mercy.

In the Supreme Court on Monday, former police officer and firefighter Kym Allen Parsons ended a 20-year mystery, and unmasked himself, by pleading guilty to armed robbery charges.

Parsons, who originally denied the charges, changed his pleas 10 days after The Advertiser revealed SA Health had approved him for voluntary assisted dying and provided him with his VAD kit.

The Advertiser understands prosecutors – who dubbed Parsons’ crimes “the most serious bank robberies” in state history – and defence counsel have been working to resolve the case since that approval was granted.

Parsons’ many victims and their families filled the public gallery of the state’s largest courtroom to watch his confession after 20 years of trauma, fear and mistrust.

They denounced him as a person “so cowardly, so brutal, so arrogant, so selfish” with “a complete disregard for the law and others”.

Parsons responded with a tearful, pre-written apology, saying he had asked the case be called on so he could confess before he died.

He insisted his wife and family had no idea of his criminal actions, and that he had agreed to repay all $358,976.90 he had stolen.

The long delay in confessing was, he said, a result of fear – that he would lose the love and respect of his own family when they knew his true identity.

Bicycle Bandit Kym Allen Parsons outside court. Picture Mark Brake

Parsons with his distinctive SKK 7.62 rifle during one of his robberies. Picture: SA Police

“I’m devastated by your suffering … I want to sincerely apologise for the trauma I’ve caused each of you as a result of my robberies,” he said.

“You have a right to feel safe and secure at work, at home and in the community, and I have taken that from you.

“There are no excuses for my behaviour … my reasoning was illogical and irrational over that time … over the past 10 years I’ve tried to rehabilitate and seek God’s forgiveness.

“I hope by pleading guilty, confessing to the robberies, repaying the money stolen and expressing my sorrow, will help bring you some closure in time.

“I do not expect your forgiveness, but I humbly hope you accept my sincerest apologies and remorse.”

Parsons then asked to remain on bail ahead of sentencing, accepting the court had no reason to honour that request beyond “mercy”.

Justice Sandi McDonald refused, saying; “I think it’s appropriate I revoke bail.”

Parsons was taken immediately into the cells – his access to VAD while in custody is unclear, SA Health declined to comment, citing patient confidentiality.

In September 2023, convicted pedophile Malcolm Winston Day ended his life in custody using VAD, however his case had long been finalised at that stage.

Some of the firearms seized from Parsons’ home when he was finally arrested for his crimes. Picture: SA Police

Parsons, 73, was slated to stand trial in February on 10 counts of armed robbery, one count of attempted armed robbery and two firearms offences.

Prosecutors had alleged he stole more than $250,000 from 11 banks over a 10-year period from 2004 to 2014, and could be linked to those crimes by DNA.

Parsons was released on bail – after enjoying “the best chocolate sponge cake he had ever eaten” – due to his terminal cancer diagnosis.

His guilty pleas, and eventual death, are likely to trigger a three-way legal war between prosecutors, his heirs and his victims over his $2.4 million estate.

Prosecutors could seek to add the estate to the $200 million Victims of Crime fund, alleging they are confiscated criminal assets.

Parsons’ beneficiaries may have to prove the estate is not the result of crime to regain control of whatever entitlements they are granted under his will.

The robbery victims, meanwhile, would need to hire lawyers and prove Parsons was the bandit in order to stake any claim.

Under state law, Parsons’ offences carry a maximum sentence of life.

Parsons’ distinctive appearance during the robberies has left his victims fearful of men in glasses and beanies. Picture: SA Police

On Monday, many of the victims and their families filled the public gallery of the state’s largest courtroom to watch Parson’s confession.

Prosecutor Karen Ingleton tendered 15 victim impact statements on their behalf, several of which were read by the survivors themselves.

As a whole, the victims said they had experienced panic, terror, ongoing anxiety and debilitating mental health issues as a result of Parsons’ actions.

They cited men in dark glasses and beanies as “triggering”, spoke of flashbacks and trust issues – and praised their husbands, children and families for standing by them regardless.

Jillian Pfitzner said she could never forget Parsons pointing his distinctive rifle “in my face”.

“I want him to know how much trauma he has caused to the people and families involved in multiple bank robberies, and what they’ve lived with these past 20 years,” she said.

Christine Fisher said she wondered, as her bank’s security screen “flew up”, whether Parson’s gun would be “flung away” or if it would go off and kill her.

“There’s so much anger I’m living with in this life sentence, and the person who committed it has no remorse and has not had to live with the consequences,” she said.

Rose Lindner said her family should never have been forced to endure the consequences of her trauma at Parsons hands.

“(Parsons is) so cowardly, so brutal, so arrogant, so selfish, and (has) a complete disregard for the law and others,” she said.

“How would someone feel if this happened to their wife and children?”

Michelle Bannard said Parsons’ arrest had retraumatised her and so many of his victims, undoing years of work to heal and cope with their burdens.

“Kym Parsons is a name I never thought I would hear, yet here I am standing in front of you, 15 years after you walked into my workplace and changed my life forever,” she said.

“I refuse to let your actions define me anymore … I’m living my best life, your path seems less promising.”

Sheryl Thomson said she wanted the pain and suffering of all victims to end.

“I’m hoping I can regain some of my power and the trust I lost that day … it has been 15 years since I’ve felt fully in control of my life and my emotions,” she said.

“I want to get that feeling back … I need to have closure for my own sanity.”

James Marcus, for Parsons, said closure was his client’s goal as well.

“He wanted this matter called on to today for fear he would not be able to enter his pleas,” he said.

“He wanted to do so to bring closure to the victims of his offending … he wanted to be able to do that in person.

“We ask that his bail continue … for no reason other than mercy.”

Ms Ingleton said that mercy could not be extended, and that the robberies could be “quite succinctly described”.

“Each of these armed robberies was a serious offence, and the impact upon the victims was significant,” she said.

“The offences were planned, well-organised, terrifying and frightening for each victim.

“There are, perhaps, an example of the most serious bank robberies in SA.”

Justice McDonald remanded Parsons in custody for sentencing next week.

Parsons’ family declined to comment outside court.

Originally published as Kym Allen Parsons pleads guilty to 10-year armed robbery spree, admits he is Bicycle Bandit, after winning right to die