Juvenile pleads guilty to hoax call

Friday 20 July 2018

A juvenile has pleaded guilty before Guernsey's Magistrates Court to making the hoax bomb threat which led to the evacuation of Beau Sejour earlier this month.

The 17-year-old boy; who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been released on police bail pending the production of reports before he can be sentenced next month.

The full charge against the youth was read out in court by the Deputy Greffier, who stated the defendant: "did send by a telecommunications network a message which you knew to be false, for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety to others."

The youth admitted this and a date for sentencing was set for August. He was then released on unconditional police bail.

Beau Séjour was evacuated just after 12:30 on Wednesday 4 July, following an anonymous call to the centre. It was forwarded on to Guernsey Police, which said it "gave officers enough concern to call for a full evacuation."

Members of the public, including those swimming and using the gym, were told to leave the building and to assemble on the Cambridge Park playing fields as the events unfolded.

Some customers were left in just their swimming costumes as they waited for further instructions on the field. They were waiting for up to two hours before the all clear was given so they could return and get changed.

Following the evacuation and during the subsequent investigation at the leisure centre, entry was restricted at every access point to Beau Sejour and the surrounding land and playing fields. Beau Sejour staff and customers, patrons of the Ron Short Centre and other members of the public were being held in the area to the side of the upper tennis courts, behind the softball pitch.

Just before 14:30 the leisure centre was reopened and people were told they could return inside, but before that, it and surrounding areas were closed to the public due to the "ongoing incident" which police officers were initially unable to confirm the nature of while their work continued.

Initially, after being arrested, the 17-year-old was referred to the island's Children's Convener. It is that body which decided to refer the matter on to the Magistrate's Court.