A Kiwi bodyguard to an Australian billionaire faces jail before deportation to New Zealand after being caught with a cache of military weapons.
Sean Bowman, a former special-forces soldier, suffered from "James Bond syndrome'' and stashed guns around his Sydney apartment while sleeping with his boss's young mistress.
But the 38-year-old's world came crashing down yesterday after pleading guilty to a string of charges, including possessing unregistered firearms, false documents and steroids.
His mother flew from Christchurch for the hearing and sobbed in the courtroom as her son was led into custody, Sydney's Daily Telegraph reported.
Bowman was head of security for the late Richard Pratt, the owner of packaging giant Visy Industries who was once rated the fourth-richest Australian.
He was caught in a raid on his Sydney apartment last year with a collection of military weapons, including an army-issue M4 automatic rifle fitted with a silencer under his bed.
A court heard that Bowman, who has 20 years of security industry experience, imported the rifle after allegedly discussing his purchase with his employer.
Police also found an Afghani passport used to open a fraudulent Australian bank account, police badges and false credentials for the CIA and international police organisation Interpol, according to the Telegraph.
Bowman's barrister Ian Lloyd QC said his client gave a "colourful'' explanation for the illegal items, claiming he collected military "paraphernalia''.
The lawyer said: "He has a bit of a James Bond syndrome with firearms and things firearm-related.''
Pratt's mistress Madison Ashton had previously failed in a legal bid to claim millions from her wealthy 70-year-old lover's estate.
But during her Supreme Court trial, the ex-prostitute claimed she had been in an abusive relationship with Bowman while still with Pratt.
The Telegraph said she claimed the billionaire had given permission for her to continue her fling with his bodyguard, who Justice Paul Brereton described as having "intimidating qualities''.
Bowman will be sentenced next month and was told to expect a jail sentence before being deported back to New Zealand.
