Man who sent threatening letters was 'drinking himself to sleep'

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A man who sent threatening letters to a Sydney mosque was "drinking himself to sleep" and "fell into some type of internet rabbit hole", a court has heard. 

Raymond Brookes was released from custody on Tuesday and will serve a 15-month intensive community correction order for sending four letters that incited hatred and violence.

The 70-year-old sent two letters to Lakemba Mosque that incited violence towards Middle Eastern and First Nations communities in the lead up to Australia Day in January this year.

He had also threatened violence in separate letters sent to WA Senator Fatima Paymen and Education Minister Jason Clare.

Lakemba Mosque received a number of threatening letters in a six-week period. (ABC News: Abubakr Sajid)

Brookes appeared via video link at Bankstown Local Court on Tuesday in a dark green prison sweater, drinking water continuously as he waited for his case to be heard.

Legal Aid lawyer Danilo Rajkovic told the court Brookes was isolated and struggled with alcohol use in the lead up to sending the threatening letters.

"He was drinking every day, drinking himself to sleep most of the days… he was watching Sky News, getting onto YouTube," Mr Rajkovic said.

"He fell into some type of internet rabbit hole."

Mr Rajkovic said Brookes was stressed about tenancy issues and being at a risk of homelessness.

"[It is a] combination of things that made him the perfect person to become, I suppose, brainwashed by certain types of media, probably even call it, propaganda of some sorts,"

Mr Rajkovic said.

15 months under strict supervision

The court was handed a two-page apology letter written by Brookes, which Mr Rajkovic said showed his "remorse".

"What happened in relation to these incidents was somewhat of an aberration of his usual character," Mr Rajkovic said.

Magistrate George Breton said the threatening letters sent by Brookes "targeted all sorts of members of our community".

"[He] demonstrated a hatred for society in general… inciting hatred and violence that seems to be escalating in our world," Magistrate Breton said.

"[It] appears on our TV screens on a daily basis, it seems… people like you, Mr Brookes, filling it [the world] with more hate."

The magistrate sentenced Brookes to a 15-month intensive corrections order, which requires strict supervision in the community.

Brookes will also have to undergo alcohol treatment.

Magistrate Breton said, "jail is the last resort", and considered the three months that Brookes had already spent in custody since he was refused bail in January.

Four letters inciting violence

Brookes pleaded guilty to four counts of sending a letter threatening death or grievous bodily harm in March.

Two four-paged letters were sent to Lakemba Mosque on January 22, one addressed to the Australian Muslim Advocacy Network and the second was directed towards the mosque.

Brookes threatened violence towards protesters on January 26 in a four-page letter that was also sent to Ms Payman.

Mr Clare was also targeted by Brookes in 2023, with a two-page letter sent to his electoral office in Sydney's west.

Forensic police examined fingerprints on the letters and envelopes of all four threats which aligned with Brookes's.

He was arrested after police raided his home in south-west Sydney on Burwood Road in Belmore in January.

Lakemba mosque targeted multiple times

In the span of six weeks, Lakemba Mosque received four letters containing threats, two of them from Brookes.

The threats targeted the Muslim community, the mosque itself, and board members of the Lebanese Muslim Association, Gamel Kheir. Some were timed during Ramadan, a holy month for Muslims.