PHOTO/FILE

GIANINA SCHWANECKE

gianina.schwanecke@age.co.nz

Frustration over a dispute with the Masterton ANZ branch led a 76-year-old man to threaten staff with what appeared to be an explosive device.

In the Masterton District Court on Monday, Greytown man David James Taylor was convicted of threatening to cause grievous bodily harm.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Miranda Barton told Judge James Johnston that the defendant believed he was owed $2000 by the bank and grew frustrated by a lack of action, leading to the offence.

Shortly before 3pm on December 12 last year, Taylor entered the Masterton ANZ branch on the corner of Chapel St and Lincoln Rd.

He carried with him a green duffel bag containing an orange cylinder set up to look like an explosive device.

Taylor told bank staff he had a handheld control – his hearing aid remote – which could set off the bomb.

Sergeant Barton said the incident had “significantly affected” staff and members of the public present at the time.

Defence lawyer JP Delamere said the incident was “totally out of character” for his client and the dispute with ANZ had since been resolved.

Judge Johnston said something had clearly got out of hand, “dangerously so”.

“You pleaded guilty to a charge of threatening grievous bodily harm.

“I have decided to convict you and remand your case.”

Taylor was remanded at large pending a pre-sentence report and discussions about restorative justice.

He will appear before the court for sentencing in May.