Bicycle Bandit Kym Allen Parsons dies by voluntary assisted dying at Adelaide hospital

A former police officer dubbed the ‘Bicycle Bandit’ — who was sentenced, only on Monday, to 35 years jail over a string of bank robberies — has ended his life using a voluntary assisted dying program.

Kym Allen Parsons pleaded guilty to 10 counts of aggravated robbery and firearms charges over bank heists in South Australia between 2004 and 2014.

He became known as the ‘Bicycle Bandit’ after using a pushbike to flee many of the thefts.

The 73-year-old, who had terminal cancer, ended his life just after midday Wednesday at a palliative care facility adjacent to Flinders Medical Centre.

It understood he was surrounded by family.

Parsons’ victims are furious he only served two days of his prison term — which had an extraordinary starting point of 85 years.

Many of them told the court they continue to experience post-traumatic disorder, anxiety, depression, breakdowns and social withdrawal.

A spokesperson for the Department for Correctional Services said: “It can be confirmed that there was a death in DCS custody on Wednesday 26 June at approximately 12.15pm.”

Parsons appeared via video link from the Adelaide Remand Centre for sentencing on Monday, a week after he pleaded guilty to 10 robberies and one attempted robbery, apologised to his victims in court and promised to repay the stolen money.

Justice Sandi McDonald acknowledged there was an “air of artificiality” about the 85-year prison term she imposed, which was reduced to 35 years with a non-parole period of 28 years.

The former police officer and firefighter had contracted cancer in the workplace and his condition deteriorated after his arrest in October 2023.

He used a bike to flee many of the bank robberies, committed in SA towns between 2004 and 2014.

Justice McDonald had told Parsons, as well as the many staff in the banks he robbed — and workers of other banks who feared they might be next — there was also a further category of victim.

“And that is your family,” she said.

“Your family who now have to grapple not only with your imminent death but the fact that the man who is about to pass away is not the man that they thought they knew.”

She described Parsons’ actions as “morally reprehensible”.

“Despite this, you have made a choice to attempt in some way to atone for your behaviour,” she said.

“You’ve attempted to give your victims some answers, some closure.

“I accept that the apology you made in court was earnest, driven by remorse and guilt.”