Bomb pipes, ‘terrorist handbook’ and 50 stolen snakes allegedly discovered in 21-year-old’s house

1 month ago 7

It was in an unassuming two-bedroom brick house that NSW investigators allegedly made the bizarre discovery.

A raft of weapons, including material for a homemade bomb, replica guns and 11 knives, were uncovered throughout the Bathurst house, court documents allege, alongside the Adolf Hitler manifesto Mein Kampf, and other publications called The Terrorist Handbook, Home Workshop Explosives and Silent Death. In one bedroom, police also found 50 snakes kept in plastic storage containers.

Dozens of snakes allegedly found hidden in plastic containers inside a room of the Bathurst house.

Tristan Leonard, 21, is accused of owning the weapons and extremist material, as well as stealing the snakes from his friend’s father.

Leonard was arrested after the snake owner’s two sons went to the house looking for the reptiles on the morning of February 26, and his frightened partner called the police.

Documents released after Leonard was refused bail in the NSW Supreme Court allege a search of the house revealed several weapons, disturbing literature and publications explaining how to make weapons with household materials.

Police allegedly found the snakes in the spare bedroom, which Leonard’s partner said he was protective about due to being “a private person who doesn’t want people touching his belongings”.

Several replica guns were allegedly found during a search of Tristan Leonard’s home.

Concerned after uncovering what appeared to be pipe bombs, the Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit was also called in. The house was later declared safe as the pipe bombs were empty.

Leonard’s partner told police she had not seen any firearms or other weapons in the house. She is not accused of any wrongdoing.

Hours after the search, Highway Patrol officers stopped and arrested Leonard on a nearby street and took him to Bathurst Police Station.

Leonard’s phone was seized and he agreed to a police interview, in which he admitted he did not have a firearms licence. However, he was “evasive” when asked about the alleged items found, responding: “No comment.”

A folder containing a printed out version of “The Terrorist Handbook” that Leonard is accused of possessing.

Upon gaining a search warrant to return to the home, police allegedly found dozens of illegal weapons, including replica pistols, 11 knives, gel blasters and firearm templates.

Sitting on a desk was allegedly a folder with pages from The Terrorist Handbook, which contained instructions for home-made explosives.

According to the court documents, Leonard sent the manuals and other extremist material to several people via WhatsApp.

Leonard’s solicitor Matthew Wade submitted his client “had not fully matured and does not necessarily appreciate ‘the real-world consequences’ of possessing items resembling real weapons and firearms,” Supreme Court Justice Christine Adamson noted in her bail judgment.

Eleven knifes were allegedly found during the search.

“Wade accepted that although these replicas might be incapable of being used in a homicide, they are certainly capable of engendering fear of death in anyone who is threatened with such items.”

Wade suggested that Leonard, who had been in custody since his arrest, could live with his partner, who had described him as her “strength and hope” who had “a very positive effect” on her mental health challenges.

Refusing Leonard bail on October 9, Adamson said he had no prior criminal history and found the risk he posed was “difficult to measure”.

“However, it should not be underestimated that when someone has demonstrated the capacity, intention, and desire to manufacture items which resemble firearms, this of itself poses a danger to individuals and the community,” she said.

Leonard pleaded not guilty to seven firearm charges and one count of dealing with or attempted to deal with a protected animal when appearing in Bathurst Local Court on Wednesday. He made no application for bail, which was refused, and will next appear at court in December.

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