Man Jailed for 22 Months Over Bomb Hoax in Kent
A Sutton Valence man has been locked up for nearly two years after making a terrifying bomb hoax call to Kent Police in the aftermath of the 2017 UK terror attacks.
Bomb Threat Sparks Police Response
Christopher Haw, 25, of Sutton Road, Sutton Valence, rang 999 claiming he had a gun and explosives. He threatened to kill people and demanded armed officers attend, daring police to ‘bring it on’.
The call came on the evening of Saturday 8 July 2017, just over a week after Britain was still on edge from terror incidents. Haw told officers he had a pipe bomb and planned to blow up a building.
Home Search Reveals Explosive Materials
After his arrest, Haw admitted he was lying and apologised. But police found concerning materials at his home that could be used to make explosives, raising serious alarm bells.
Violent Behaviour Towards Police
When officers arrived, Haw made a gun gesture towards an officer’s head and spat at another. He was quickly detained but continued to boast about having a bomb during custody.
Judge Sends Clear Message
At Maidstone Crown Court on 18 May 2018, Haw pleaded guilty to making a bomb hoax and assaulting a police officer. He was sentenced to 22 months in prison.
Detective Sergeant Dan Barker said: “Christopher Haw has expressed remorse and clearly has issues, but that’s no excuse. The call wasted vital police resources in a time of national emergency. The materials at his home were a serious concern. We hope he takes this time to face his problems and change his ways.”
