Birmingham man admits making bomb threats towards NHS hospital on video

A man from Birmingham has admitted making a "grossly offensive" threat to bomb an NHS hospital, in which he said he hoped "all the staff die of coronavirus."

31-year-old Matthew Wain made a YouTube video of his threats towards Birmingham's City Hospital.

Wain, of Hatfield Road, Birmingham, pleaded guilty at the city's magistrates' court to sending a grossly offensive or menacing message by means of a public electronic communications network, relating to the video

The court was told how Wain posted the "lengthy" video on YouTube, describing how he had previously attended hospital "having a heart attack".

Prosecutor Peter Lawn told the court, "He is unhappy with treatment he received. He also states 'not being funny, but what happened to me yesterday, I will bomb the place to be honest.'

"He also states that he hopes all the staff die of coronavirus."

Mr Lawn added: "It is the threat to bomb the hospital that brings the defendant before the court today."

Magistrates heard Wain was arrested on April 1 and told officers he "didn't mean it" and had no intention of harming anyone.

He also stated that he had made "empty threats" on the video, and had beenupset and hurt at his treatment.

Wain, who has previous convictions, including a malicious communication offence committed in the Norfolk area, was granted conditional bail pending pre-sentence reports.

He was ordered to return to court on June 18 and instructed not to contact NHS staff unless it was for a genuine medical need.