Man appears in court over primary school bomb hoax

A man charged with communicating false information after a hoax bomb call was made to a Wiltshire school has appeared in court.

James Morgan, 36, from Rabley Wood View, Marlborough, was arrested by Wiltshire Police on Tuesday, after the call was received saying there was a bomb inside Badbury Park Primary School in Swindon.

A 200m (656ft) cordon was set up around the school, which was evacuated, and residents within the cordon's radius were told to leave their homes.

Mr Morgan appeared at Swindon Magistrates' Court, where he was remanded into custody to next appear at Swindon Crown Court on 28 March.

The school was closed for several hours while police searched the building.

Wiltshire Police said Mr Morgan was arrested at his home address less than an hour after the school was declared safe.

Supt Steve Cox, from Wiltshire Police, said earlier on Thursday: "Hoax calling is an offence we treat extremely seriously as it draws emergency workers away from legitimate incidents where there is a real risk to people's lives."

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