Big W worker lands himself in court after going to terrifying lengths to get a day off before going on the run from police for 10 years – and costs the retailer tens of thousands of dollars
- Former Big W trainee manager has narrowly escaped jail time over a bomb hoax
- Steven Norman John Walsh, now 28, pleaded guilty over the 2008 bomb hoax
- Court heard he called the store during his shift because he wanted the night off
- The bomb hoax sparked the evacuation of Toowoomba’s main shopping centre
A former Big W trainee manager who sent Toowoomba’s biggest shopping centre into lockdown with a bomb hoax and spent 10 years on the run from police has escaped jail time.
Steven Norman John Walsh, now, 28, pleaded guilty to falsely stating a bomb would go off in the store when he appeared in Brisbane District Court on Friday.
The incident shut down Grand Central in Toowoomba in Queensland’s south-east.
Walsh, then 18, made the hoax call as he wanted a night off work on October 6, 2008, the court heard.
Steven Norman John Walsh’s bomb hoax sparked the lockdown of Toowoomba’s biggest shopping centre. He later spent 10 years on the run from Queensland Police
He left mid-shift without reason and phoned to the store to say a bomb would go off in the store 15 minutes, the Sunshine Coast Daily reported.
Police were contacted and the entire shopping centre was evacuated.
Walsh denied any knowledge of the bomb hoax, despite phone records showing a call was made from his mobile to his workplace at the time of the bomb hoax.
He was later charged and ordered to face a committal hearing but failed to appear.
The hoax cost retailers and centre management more than $33,000 in lost income and wages.
Walsh, then, 18 was a trainee manager at Big W store when he wanted a night off from work
The court heard Walsh spent 10 years on the run from police and fled to Melbourne, where he racked up a criminal history of dishonesty offences.
He handed himself in to police when he returned to Queensland.
Defence barrister Rob Glenday told the court the bomb hoax was ‘out of character’ for Walsh.
Steven Norman John Walsh (pictured), now 28, has avoided jail time for the 2008 bomb hoax
‘It was an impulsive act, a foolish act by a man who was struggling with drug use,’ Mr Glenday said.
‘He does regret his actions and is truly remorseful for what he did back then.’
Walsh was sentenced to six months in jail but was released on parole after receiving a stern warning from Judge Brad Farr.
‘Your phone call had a financial impact on others – this type of offending is one of great seriousness,’ he said.
The bomb hoax almost 11 years ago cost retailers and centre management at Grand Central (pictured) more than $33,000 in lost income and wages