Police officer’s stalker thought his explosives were ‘worth some money’, lawyer tells court

A man who stalked a police officer who had earlier investigated him for possessing explosive devices believed they were valuable and would help him financially recover from a Centrelink dispute, an Adelaide court has heard.

Oswald Bruggemans, 65, has pleaded guilty to stalking a police officer at Victor Harbor in February.

The Adelaide Magistrates Court heard Bruggemans followed the son of the detective — who was friends with his own teenage son — home, before shouting at the boy and his mother that their father and husband was a “corrupt cop”.

Prosecutor Kos Lesses told the court the victim had investigated Bruggemans for explosives offences in 2011, 2015 and 2019.

“For the better part of 10 years, Mr Bruggemans has obsessed and become paranoid of the victim,” he said.

“The offending was committed in response to, and in retribution of, work carried out by that officer.”

Bruggemans’s lawyer, Wayne Carlin, told the court his client had paranoid personality disorder and was “misguided” in thinking the police officer had a vendetta against him.

Mr Carlin said the father-of-four — who had been on a disability support pension for more than 20 years — started offending following a dispute with Centrelink.

“When he travelled overseas, his home was sold and a significant portion of the proceeds of sale were paid back to Centrelink,” Mr Carlin told the court.

Mr Carlin said while he successfully appealed and was repaid a sum of money, it did not even cover his legal fees and he never financially recovered.

“He believed if he could get some money from that; he could turn that financial disaster from 2004 around and get back on his feet.”

‘His conduct is escalating’

Mr Carlin told the court his client had already spent more than seven months in custody and asked that any further sentence be suspended.

But Mr Lesses said the stalking offence had had a substantial impact on the victim and his family, and that Bruggemans should spend at least a year in prison.

He said Bruggemans stalked the police officer while he was subject to a good behaviour bond.

“Mr Bruggemans has had the benefit of prior suspended or partially suspended bonds and, to be blunt, they haven’t worked,” he said.

Magistrate John Wells said Bruggemans conduct had escalated over the years and he remained a very high risk of re-offending.

“His lack of insight is extremely concerning.”

Bruggemans faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

He will be sentenced next month.