BRISBANE, Australia, July 26 (UPI) -- An 81-year-old Australian man who sent explosive packages Prime Minister Julia Gillard and other figures will spend less than a year in jail, officials said.
Judge Brian Devereaux said he took John Gilbert Gordon's age, cooperation with police and personal circumstances into account in sentencing Gordon to 2 1/2 years in prison to be suspended after eight months, the Brisbane Times reported Thursday.
Prosecutors said Gordon started his "campaign of terror" in 2007 with a letter to Kevin Rudd, before he became prime minister, threatening to destroy Catholic churches. By the time Gordon was arrested in 2010, he had sent six explosives by mail as well as numerous threats, the newspaper said. None of the letters or explosives reached its intended destination.
The Times said Gordon was angry about state funds being used to fund private schools, Australia's refugee situation and other issues.
