Alleged hoaxer in court

Press, 24 April 1984, Page 6

Alleged hoaxer in court

NZPA-AAP Melbourne A man told a Melbourne Court yesterday that although he had been described in the Australian news media as a mad bomber he would not harm anyone. John Charles Dixon-Jen-kins. aged 41. of Cartwright. New South Wales, is charged with delivering an unsealed letter to Qantas in Melbourne threatening to destroy or endanger the safety of an aircraft, and threatening to damage Returned Services League property with the intention of causing the league’s Victorian president, Bruce Ruxton, fear.

He had appeared in the Bairnsdale Court in eastern Victoria last week on these charges, where he pleaded not guilty on the basis of self-defence.

Before Mr Kevin Burgess, S.M., Dixon-Jenkins faced five more charges yesterday.

It was alleged that between April 13 and 16 he had positioned simulated explosive devices at different Melbourne metropolitan schools, in a restaurant and a number of stores then sent written threats that unless certain conditions were met one of these devices which he purported to be an explosive would be detonated.

It was also alleged that between April 13 and 16 he had sent a written threat that he had contaminated foodstuffs by the use of glass slivers.* Dixon-Jenkins applied for bail and said that nothing he had done was an offence under state law of self defence.

“I am portrayed in the media as a mad bomber — I am a dedicated antinuclear campaigner,” he said.

He was remanded to April 27.