Wetherspoons bouncer jailed for pub bomb hoax

A pub bouncer who planted a fake bomb in a JD Wetherspoon toilet has been jailed for 12 months.

Stephen Edward Oliphant raised the alarm in November 2021 after he claimed he had found a suspicious device at the Hat and Feathers pub in Seaham, County Durham.

The pub was evacuated and a specialist bomb disposal team arrived, but they found the device was a hoax made from items including a bingo dabber.

Oliphant’s DNA was found on each component, and more parts were discovered following a search of his home at Stanley Street, Houghton-le-Spring.

The 25-year-old denied involvement but later admitted he had planted the item so he could look like a hero.

Oliphant appeared at Durham Crown Court on 12 May and pleaded guilty to a charge of bomb hoax, placing an article with intent.

Detective constable Drew Davis of Durham Constabulary, who led the investigation, said: “Any report of a potential bomb is extremely worrying for the public and this job was very resource intensive with several agencies involved alongside ourselves to make sure no one came to any harm.

“Oliphant was reckless in planting this ‘device’ and we hope his sentence sends a clear message that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated and anyone engaging in this type of crime will be dealt with robustly.”

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