Source : Perth Now news
A man’s claim that he carried out a string of anti-Semitic attacks because he felt “trapped” by drug debt has been rejected by a court.
Nicholas James Alexander has admitted to co-ordinating the spray painting of “f**k the jews” and “f**k Israel on cars across Sydney and 10 swastikas on the Newtown Synagogue last January.
He also co-ordinated the firebombing of the Only About Children childcare centre in Maroubra in Sydney’s east, the damage of which was in excess of $5000.
He was beamed into the Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday afternoon sporting prison greens, with his fiance supporting him in the courtroom as he was sentenced to five years jail over the attacks.
Alexander said he was not motivated by hate towards the Jewish community but felt “trapped” by debt fuelled by his drug addiction.
“My habit had cost me more than I could afford to pay. I felt trapped but when I was offered a way out, I felt and was made to feel that I had no choice but to take what was in front of me,” Alexander wrote in a letter to the court, read out by magistrate Jennifer Atkinson.
“I don’t have any ill feelings towards the Jewish community. My actions were not intended to hurt anyone or to push an agenda on my behalf. I simply was trying to free myself from the trap I found myself in.”
Ms Atkinson noted that his letter was consistent with what he told his co-accused to say if they were caught by police and ultimately did not accept his explanation.
Alexander had directed others to carry out the attacks under instruction from unknown persons overseas, but he would have known the attacks were a “deliberate tactic to divide the Arab and Jewish communities”, Ms Atkinson told the court.
“While he did not commit the substantive offences he could reasonably foresee the possible extent of damage to property that was likely and the intention to cause public fear and disharmony between Jewish and Arab Australians,” Ms Atkinson said.
Alexander told his co-accused to tell police they carried out the acts to “pay off drug debt” to “Arabs” if they were caught.
“Also here’s the spill, that anyone that gets grabbed say it. Why’d you do this? To pay off drug debt. To who? Arabs,” Ms Atkinson said, reading out part of the agreed facts.
Alexander pleaded guilty to four counts of accessory before the fact to an offence – destroy/damage property in company, two counts of accessory before the fact to an offence – destroy etc property in company use fire etc, and knowingly/recklessly direct criminal group assist crime.
More to come …
