JAILED: Man who terrified Christmas Eve shoppers with fake Taliban bomb
A man terrified customers when he left a fake bomb purporting to be from the Taliban in a busy shop on Christmas Eve, a court heard.
The shop, Bargain Buys in West Bromwich, was forced to close with the loss of thousands of pounds in festive trade while the suspect package was investigated.
Vincent Rudland, aged 45, was arrested after being recognised on CCTV by staff. He was jailed for 27 months at Wolverhampton Crown Court this week.
Passing sentence, Judge Nicholas Webb told him that 'because of world we are living in' he had put people in fear that the package had been placed there by Islamic fundamental terrorists.
A member of staff spotted the package – labelled 'Watch out: Bomb by Taliban' – in the chocolate display, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
The police were called and found the parcel to contain a battery, a fuse and some shaving gel, which had leaked, all packed with shredded paper and bound with masking tape, said Mr Mark Phillips, prosecuting.
"Some effort had been given to make it look like it could be a viable explosive device," said Mr Philips.
People abandoned their shopping baskets and ran from the store which was forced to close for 90 minutes 'on one of the busiest days of the year,' he said.
"Some of the staff broke down in tears because people couldn't help thinking the worst. It was more pressure on them on what was already a busy day. The manager described it as a 'silly and unnecessary' event," said Mr Philips.
It is estimated the shop suffered around £4,000 in lost sales over the incident.
Rudland, of no fixed address but previously of Mountbatten Close, West Bromwich, was recognised by staff as having previously offered them sweets. He was also recognised by police officers in the area.
Mr Harpreet Sandhu, defending, described Rudland, who pleaded guilty to placing an article with intent, as an 'isolated figure' who relied on his parents for social interaction, and who suffered a number of medical problems, including anxiety and depression, said Mr Sandhu.
Judge Webb, who also made a restraining order banning him from going to Bargain Buys, said: "This was a particularly worrying hoax bomb for which there is still no explanation."
