Runcorn man jailed 28 months for hoax death-threat emails to three Merseyside schools

Darren Rigby, 21, sent threatening hoax emails to schools in Liverpool and Southport in January, forcing one into lockdown. He was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court.

Runcorn man jailed for hoax threats that put Liverpool school into lockdown

Darren Rigby, 21, of Worthington Close, Runcorn, has been sentenced to two years and four months in prison after admitting sending threatening hoax emails to three schools across Merseyside, according to merseyside.police.uk.

Rigby pleaded guilty to three counts of sending communications threatening death or serious harm, with the offences taking place across several days in January.

Holly Lodge Girls' College in West Derby, Liverpool, was the first school targeted, receiving a threat on 19 January that caused it to go into lockdown. Greenbank High School in Southport was sent further threatening emails on 23 January. Three days after that, The Belvedere Academy in Princes Park, Liverpool, received a similar message.

Liverpool Crown Court imposed the 28-month custodial sentence and also issued Rigby with three Restraining Orders prohibiting any further contact with the three schools.

Rigby additionally admitted possession of a controlled Class B drug — cannabis — and possession of an offensive weapon in a private place, namely a baton.

Detective Chief Inspector John Black said the reports had been taken "extremely seriously" from the outset.

"Rigby clearly intended to cause fear and alarm not only for staff and children at the three schools, but also parents and the wider community," Black said.

"This will never be tolerated and as soon as we received these reports we carried out a thorough investigation which identified Rigby as the suspect."

Black said the evidence gathered left Rigby with no option but to admit his actions.

"He thought he could hide behind his keyboard and there would be no consequences, but it wasn't long before he was in handcuffs and sat in the back of a police car," he said.

Black also moved to reassure families across the region, stating that schools in Merseyside have "well established and practised procedures to keep children and school staff safe" when made aware of potential threats, and that the force would continue to offer advice and carry out enquiries if similar incidents arise.

Source: Google News UK — Crime (en)