Cornwall bomb hoaxer pleads guilty to campaign of threats in UK, US and Canada
A Cornwall man has admitted carrying out a campaign of bomb hoaxes in the US, against several UK schools and the Houses of Parliament.
Andreas Dowling, 24, appeared at Bristol Crown Court today (Thursday 7 November) and admitted 30 counts of communicating false information with intent between October 2014 and February 2016.
Simon Laws QC told the court that the 30 charges comprised a total of 107 bomb hoax incidents.
The majority of the charges related to schools in Devon, Cornwall and Bristol.
Dowling targeted Clifton High School, Redland High, Bristol Grammar and Badminton School.
He also threatened schools in Truro, St Ives and Wadebridge.
The court heart that one of the charges related to threats made by Dowling against Jewish schools and will be sentenced as "racially aggravated".
In the US, the 24-year-old threatened to "ruin the life" of a 17-year-old girl unless she sent him nude photographs of herself.
Dowling pleaded guilty to the charge relating to this incident - "encouraging or assisting the commission of an offence believing it would be committed" under the Protection of Children Act 1978.
At a previous hearing at the Old Bailey in London, prosecutor Mr Laws said Dowling's bomb threats caused "disruption and panic" in the countries he targeted.
February 1 2015 - Dowling targeted one of America's biggest sporting events, the Super Bowl.
February 8 2016 - He also threatened the Houses of Parliament.
June 2019 - Dowling was arrested following an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing South West.
Avon and Somerset Police confirmed officers were satisfied the bomb threats made by Dowling "were not an act of terrorism".
Dowling, who is from Torpoint, Cornwall, will be sentenced at a later date by Mrs Justice May.