Lochlan Mark Brown: ‘Curious’ drug user who set off pipe bombs in Perth suburbs jailed for years
A 28-year-old man who set off pipe bombs in three suburbs, sending potentially deadly shrapnel flying into residential properties, has been jailed for two years and eight months.
The WA Police arson squad charged Lochlan Mark Brown with three counts of causing an explosion likely to do serious injury to property over the explosions in Byford, Mount Nasura and Thornlie in August last year.
The District Court of WA was told that Brown became “curious” when a friend told him how easy it was to make the pipe bombs – and set one off on the front lawn of a home occupied by people he knew.
One of the end caps smashed through the property’s kitchen window and the other hit a vehicle across the road.
The 17-year-old boy inside the house had a “terrifying” experience, not knowing what was happening, Judge Charlotte Wallace said.
“I accept probably your intention wasn’t to harm somebody, but ultimately I think you’re very, very fortunate … that there was no harm,” Judge Wallace said.
“You never know when somebody is going to get up in the middle of the night and get a glass of water or, you know, wander around their home, as they’re entitled to.”
The second bomb Brown set off, again in the wee hours, was inside a washing machine on a verge, sending shrapnel so far that not all of it was found.
The third was detonated at an abandoned property.
“Just because it’s abandoned doesn’t mean you get to go in there and light a pipe bomb out of your own curiosity,” Judge Wallace said.
“They’re unpredictable things.
“We see all sorts of bizarre things that come to the court that no one ever intends ever, but their own stupidity has allowed it to arise.
“So you’re just fortunate, quite frankly, that it wasn’t more serious for everyone involved.”
Judge Wallace noted Brown was affected by methylamphetamine when he committed the offences, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment.
The judge said Brown’s offending revealed “a bit of immaturity”, “a level of naivety” and “lack of consequential thinking, which comes with youth”.
“You failed to appreciate the volatility and the force that these exploding fragments are known to travel at,” she said.
The judge accepted Brown, the former head slaughterer at a pet food abattoir, was genuinely remorseful.
He will be eligible for parole after serving half of his term.
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