A man from Oadby has been sentenced to prison after making a series of bomb threats targeting major locations across England.
On 5 May, Paul Fisher made multiple phone calls to various police forces, falsely claiming he had planted bombs at high-profile sites, including transport hubs.
Picture credit: Leicestershire Police
Three of the calls were made to the Metropolitan Police, falsely warning of bombs at Heathrow Airport, St Pancras railway station, and Scotland Yard. He also contacted West Midlands Police with a hoax about a bomb at Birmingham Airport, and Leicestershire Police regarding a threat to a London hotel.
Fisher made additional calls to Lincolnshire Police, claiming he intended to bomb pubs in Boston and Lincoln, and contacted Humberside Police with a similar threat in Hull.
The 61-year-old, of St Peters Path, Oadby, pleaded guilty to eight counts of communicating false information relating to bomb hoaxes during a hearing at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on 7 May.
He also admitted to three counts of causing wasteful employment of police resources in relation to calls made on 13 April and 5 May. Additionally, Fisher pleaded guilty to one count of threatening to destroy or damage property, following a call made to Leicestershire Police and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service on 3 April.
At Leicester Crown Court today (Monday, 11 August), Fisher was sentenced to five years and two months in prison.
Detective Constable Kevin Sharkey, the investigating officer, said:
“When calls like these are received, they are treated as genuine until we can confirm there is no credible threat. Hoax calls like this create major disruption, waste emergency service resources, impact businesses and the public, and cost significant amounts of money.
“I’m pleased Fisher is now facing the consequences of his actions. I hope this sentence sends a strong message that such behaviour will not be tolerated.”
