A Carlisle man has admitted calling police and falsely claiming that there was a bomb inside a vehicle close to the city’s main Durranhill station.
Matthew Neale, 46, faced one charge when he appeared in front of a judge at Carlisle Crown Court earlier today.
During a brief hearing, Neale pleaded guilty to communicating false information with intent. According to court papers, Neale did so having communicated information which he knew or believed to be false with intent to induce a false belief to someone that a bomb was present in a vehicle within the vicinity of Durranhill police station.
Neale’s bogus bomb threat — centring on the force’s divisional headquarters — occurred on December 27 last year during the course of two phone calls he accepted making.
Judge Nicholas Barker adjourned the case. He directed that a pre-sentence report should be prepared by the probation service. There will also be discussions involving the defendant’s legal team to determine whether a psychiatric report should also be produced to assist the judge who passes sentence.
Neale, of East Norfolk Street, Carlisle, attended today’s hearing remotely over a video link and was represented by barrister Kim Whittlestone.
He is due to be sentenced at the crown court on February 24, and will remain remanded in custody in the meantime.
