Armoured personnel carrier damages 7 mobile phone towers in Western Syd.

tayser · July 15th, 2007, 12:20 AM

http://www.theage.com.au/news/nation...833843064.html

Tank 7, towers 0: sounds like a phoney war

Police inspect the armoured personel carrier that brought down four Telstra mobile phone towers, and damaged three Optus ones.
Photo: Jacky Ghossein
July 15, 2007

A MAN who allegedly went on a tank rampage through the streets of western Sydney, destroying several mobile phone towers, had been lovingly restoring the vehicle, his employer said.

John Robert Patterson, 45, of the Sydney suburb of Dharruk, has been charged with predatory driving and six counts of malicious damage.

He was arrested early yesterday after police encountered an armoured personnel carrier destroying an electricity substation in the suburb of Minchinbury.

In the next 90 minutes, the tank brought down four Telstra mobile phone towers and damaged three Optus towers. The rampage continued until the vehicle stalled on the way to another phone tower.

Mount Druitt police chief inspector Guy Haberley said: "He continued to destroy mobile phone tower communications sheds by crashing through the perimeter fence and colliding with structures, causing significant damage."

The tank was allegedly stolen from A-One Lift Truck Services, where it was available for hire and was popular with students who used it for school formals.

A-One owner Greg Morris said he hired Patterson, a friend of a friend, on a six-month contract to help restore the armoured personnel carrier, made in 1967.

"We worked on this together, and he loved the work he was doing," Mr Morris said.

"I remember once when we took it out, someone touched it, and he lost his temper with them. That's how much pride he took in his work.

"He put hundreds of hours of work into it and helped build it. He loved it just as much as I did."

Mr Morris said he believed Patterson had once worked on tanks in the army.

Patterson's neighbours said he had been a technician for Telecom, now Telstra, who received a compensation pay-out about 15 years ago after a head injury.

The tank rampage stunned many local residents. Witness William Errington said he began following the vehicle with his friends after they heard loud noises and police sirens. "The tank was being driven all over the place, on footpaths, on the wrong side of the road," Mr Errington said.

"It was a bit scary, but it wasn't something you see every day."

Mobile phone services were disrupted yesterday while technicians prepared to move into the area and fix the damaged phone towers.

A Telstra spokesman said temporary structures had been erected to replace four mobile phone towers that were destroyed in Mount Druitt, Emerton, Plumpton and Minchinbury.

An Optus spokeswoman said three towers had been damaged and were being repaired. Mobile phone services in the affected areas were expected to return to normal today.

Patterson faced a Sydney court on charges that included malicious damage; breaking, entering and stealing; predatory driving; possession of a prohibited drug; use of a weapon to avoid apprehension; and driving in a dangerous manner. He was refused bail.

Yardmaster · July 15th, 2007, 02:32 AM

I'll be interested to see how this trail of destruction shapes up against lending your SIM Card ...

uewepuep · July 15th, 2007, 02:52 AM

That's awesome.

Anton · July 15th, 2007, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yardmaster

I'll be interested to see how this trail of destruction shapes up against lending your SIM Card ...

lol - will be very interesting.

KJBrissy · July 17th, 2007, 12:13 AM

Reminds me of playing GTA!! lol

Anton · July 17th, 2007, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJBrissy

Reminds me of playing GTA!! lol

givemeatankplease

July 15th, 2007, 12:20 AM	#1
tayser Champagne Socialist Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Melbourne Posts: 10,531 Likes (Received): 32	Armoured personnel carrier damages 7 mobile phone towers in Western Syd. http://www.theage.com.au/news/nation...833843064.html Tank 7, towers 0: sounds like a phoney war Police inspect the armoured personel carrier that brought down four Telstra mobile phone towers, and damaged three Optus ones. Photo: Jacky Ghossein July 15, 2007 A MAN who allegedly went on a tank rampage through the streets of western Sydney, destroying several mobile phone towers, had been lovingly restoring the vehicle, his employer said. John Robert Patterson, 45, of the Sydney suburb of Dharruk, has been charged with predatory driving and six counts of malicious damage. He was arrested early yesterday after police encountered an armoured personnel carrier destroying an electricity substation in the suburb of Minchinbury. In the next 90 minutes, the tank brought down four Telstra mobile phone towers and damaged three Optus towers. The rampage continued until the vehicle stalled on the way to another phone tower. Mount Druitt police chief inspector Guy Haberley said: "He continued to destroy mobile phone tower communications sheds by crashing through the perimeter fence and colliding with structures, causing significant damage." The tank was allegedly stolen from A-One Lift Truck Services, where it was available for hire and was popular with students who used it for school formals. A-One owner Greg Morris said he hired Patterson, a friend of a friend, on a six-month contract to help restore the armoured personnel carrier, made in 1967. "We worked on this together, and he loved the work he was doing," Mr Morris said. "I remember once when we took it out, someone touched it, and he lost his temper with them. That's how much pride he took in his work. "He put hundreds of hours of work into it and helped build it. He loved it just as much as I did." Mr Morris said he believed Patterson had once worked on tanks in the army. Patterson's neighbours said he had been a technician for Telecom, now Telstra, who received a compensation pay-out about 15 years ago after a head injury. The tank rampage stunned many local residents. Witness William Errington said he began following the vehicle with his friends after they heard loud noises and police sirens. "The tank was being driven all over the place, on footpaths, on the wrong side of the road," Mr Errington said. "It was a bit scary, but it wasn't something you see every day." Mobile phone services were disrupted yesterday while technicians prepared to move into the area and fix the damaged phone towers. A Telstra spokesman said temporary structures had been erected to replace four mobile phone towers that were destroyed in Mount Druitt, Emerton, Plumpton and Minchinbury. An Optus spokeswoman said three towers had been damaged and were being repaired. Mobile phone services in the affected areas were expected to return to normal today. Patterson faced a Sydney court on charges that included malicious damage; breaking, entering and stealing; predatory driving; possession of a prohibited drug; use of a weapon to avoid apprehension; and driving in a dangerous manner. He was refused bail. __________________ "America gave the world George Bush, France gave the world the ménage à trois... Game Over." UrbanMelbourne.info

July 17th, 2007, 12:13 AM	#5
KJBrissy ........... Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane Posts: 9,344 Likes (Received): 133	Reminds me of playing GTA!! lol __________________ "Traditionally what has hurt people has not been rising interest rates but rising unemployment. I don't care what rate you're paying, if you have a mortgage five times your income and you lose your job, you're toast." Gerard Minack, chief economist at Morgan Stanley.

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July 15th, 2007, 02:32 AM	#2
Yardmaster Registered Melbourne Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Melbourne Posts: 3,847 Likes (Received): 45	I'll be interested to see how this trail of destruction shapes up against lending your SIM Card ...

July 15th, 2007, 02:52 AM	#3
uewepuep Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 2,373 Likes (Received): 15	That's awesome.