Bomb hoax caller jailed
05.12.07
A teenager who made hoax calls saying he would detonate bombs at Durham Tees Valley and Newcastle Airport was jailed this week. Shaun Stuart rang police 8 times in March and April saying he had planted explosive devices at the airports. The 18-year-old also said that he was going to shoot the Prime Minister and the President of the United States.
Mr. Stuart, of Bensham, Gateshead, was caught and arrested after he used the same telephone box to ring in all of his threats, Newcastle Crown Court was told. He admitted 2 counts of communicating false information with intent and asked for a further 6 offences to be taken into consideration.
Rachel Curry, prosecuting, said Mr. Stuart began making the string of calls on March 27. He made 3 calls saying he had planted explosive devices at Newcastle Airport, as well as saying he had a gun and a bomb attached to himself. In one call he also claimed he had planted a bomb at the Northumbria Police Headquarters in Ponteland.
She said: 'The defendant was released on bail for these matters and went on to make further calls in April. He rang 999 and said there were 18 bombs planted at Durham Tees Valley Airport and challenged the operators to "find them if you can".'
He was arrested and released on bail again, but still made further calls threatening to kill the President of the US. When interviewed by police he said he made the calls because 'he thought it was funny.' The court was told Mr. Stuart was given a community order for making similar hoax calls in 2006.
Jailing him for 12 months, Judge Tim Hewitt said he was 'a nuisance'. Judge Hewitt said: 'This sort of irresponsible behaviour can cause a great deal of anxiety and concern for members of the public. It wastes a lot of police time to investigate these matters. The time has come for you to learn that misbehaviour such as this has consequences.'
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