'If you want a bomb I will give you one': trial hears suspended student's hoax bomb threat to Sandwell College
A suspended student made a hoax bomb threat as he was being ejected from a Black Country college, a court heard.
Scott McLaughlin told staff at Sandwell College 'if you want a bomb I will give you one', the court was told.
The 20-year-old had been a student at Sandwell College for three years, studying health and social care, but was suspended at the time of the outburst.
He returned to the Spon Lane campus on February 9 and was told to leave by student services manager Paul Smith and security staff, Sandwell Magistrates' Court heard.
Mr Mark Cooper, prosecuting, said: "A verbal altercation took place before McLaughlin was hustled out of the doors by Mr Smith and security.
"While he was ejected McLaughlin turned to Mr Smith and said 'if you want a f****** bomb I will give you one'.
"This threat was made in front of a large number of students.
"When later spoken to by police McLaughlin admitted he had said it and understood it may have frightened Mr Smith but said 'it just slipped out'."
McLaughlin was given a 12-month community order along with a rehabilitation order for 30 days.
He was ordered to pay £185 costs and a £60 victim surcharge fee.
The threat came amid a number of unrelated bomb hoaxes at schools across Sandwell – including Tipton, Wednesbury, West Bromwich, Halesowen and Oldbury – in the past month.
McLaughlin, of Cavendish Road, Edgbaston, pleaded guilty to communicating false information about a bomb hoax.
Mr Roy Paterson, defending, said McLaughlin had a history of suffering from anxiety and depression. He also had ADHD.
He added: "He is ashamed of what he has done and the alarm and fear caused."
Mr Peter Whitehouse, chairman of the bench, said while the current state of security was 'very high', it was considered as a 'serious offence'.
He explained: "For an offence of this nature and with the UK being in a very high security state it would normally be accepted that this would account a custodial sentence.
"A lot of fear is caused to staff, students and parents by making threats like this.
"However, since you are a young man with no previous convictions this appeared to be a spontaneous outburst from you."
