Man jailed for making bomb threat to police officers

A man has been jailed having pleaded guilty to making a hoax bomb threat towards police officers.

Marc MacLellan, aged 40, of Wensleydale, Hemel Hempstead appeared at St Albans Crown Court on Wednesday 3 August where he was sentenced to eight months in prison. He had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of bomb hoax - communicating false information.

The court heard how at around 8pm on Thursday 2 June, 2022, MacLellan approached a member of the public outside of Hemel Hempstead police station and told them he was “going to take out two police officers.”

Officers were alerted and approached MacLellan who then threw a rucksack towards them and made comments that it contained a bomb, as well as him having concealed another nearby.

MacLellan was arrested and a search was carried out. No such device was located in the rucksack or in the vicinity. 

He was charged on Friday 3 June and remanded into custody.

MacLellan was remorseful for his actions, stated he was intoxicated at the time and did not remember what had taken place.

Superintendent Clare Smith, of the Local Policing Command, said: “This was a serious incident during which highly concerning comments were made to officers during the course of their duties.

“The threats made would have caused great concern to anyone who heard them, including members of the public and both officers and staff working at Hemel police station.

“Threats of this kind will not be tolerated and the seriousness of the offence has seen MacLellan removed from the community and imprisoned.”