A threat to bomb a Bluebridge Ferry has been explained in court by the perpetrator who says he was unwell and not in a good state of mind at the time.
The Marlborough Express reports that after failing to appear before the Blenheim district court last week, 52 year old Phillip Hunnisett made a voluntary appearance there on Monday March 16.
Hunnisett told the court that just before the offending occurred he had become stranded in Wellington without enough money for a ferry ticket home, and had also used up all the medication he was then currently taking for a head injury.
He told the court that he was under medical advice not to stop taking the medication, but had only taken enough away with him for the week he intended to be away from home.
Hunnisett told the court that he has waited until he was paid before getting onto the ferry, where another passenger was extremely rude to him.
He then retaliated and was escorted off the vessel as a result by four to five staff members. It was then that he made the threats to blow up the Bluebridge Ferry.
Hunnisett admitted to the court what he did was not right, but said he was in an agitated state and wanted to get home to get his medication.
The judge fined him $200 on the charge.
He was also convicted and discharged on a charge of failing to appear in court.
