James Arnott's Cardiff bomb hoax to get GP appointment

Image source, Wales news service

Image caption, Arnott told surgery staff he could detonate a bomb using his mobile phone

A patient threatened to blow up a doctors' surgery with a bomb unless he was given an earlier appointment.

James Arnott, 29, who did not want to wait to see a GP at Whitchurch Village Practice in Cardiff, shouted "protect your families, I've got a bomb".

Cardiff Crown Court heard the surgery was evacuated and about 70 people inside were forced to leave.

Arnott, of Pontypridd, admitted making a false communication and was given an 18-week suspended prison sentence.

Kathryn Lane, prosecuting, said Arnott went to the surgery at 10:30 GMT on 26 June and had an appointment booked for 12:00 but he did not want to wait.

When a nurse tried to find him 10 minutes later he had already left, but he returned at 11:30 drunk and unsteady on his feet.

'Out of order'

Ms Lane said: "He said 'protect your families, I've got a bomb'.

"He told staff he had a bomb and with one touch on his mobile phone he would be able to blow the place up.

"That caused alarm and distress within the surgery and the practice had to be evacuated."

Arnott was arrested but told police he could not remember what happened.

Sentencing Arnott, Recorder of Cardiff Judge Eleri Rees said: "Your behaviour was completely out of order and completely unacceptable because you could not wait for your appointment and to threaten you had a bomb.

"Nowadays people do take the threat of a bomb seriously."