Man jailed after sending fake anthrax from Exeter home to female politicians

A man has been jailed for a three year campaign targeting female politicians in an anthrax hoax.

Richard Hayes, who was living in Exeter and Ilfracombe at the time, sent 16 envelopes full of white powder to MPs, MEPs and councillors between 2011 and 2014.

The victims and, in several cases, their family members and colleagues, were affected by the hoax with targets across the country.

The powder fell onto or near children on three occasions. In one case an entire street in London was cordoned off by police for several hours.

In reality, all the packages contained flour, bicarbonate of soda, or other harmless white powders.

Detectives from the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) Counter Terrorism Policing unit were able to forensically match Hayes' handwriting to that of the different envelopes.

The fairground worker was arrested and cautioned during a domestic incident at his home in North Devon earlier this year, which led to police eventually identifying him as the culprit.

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Hayes, aged 40, now of Marina Drive, Brixham, admitted 16 counts under Section 11 of the 2001 Anti-Terrorism, Crime, and Security Act of hoax packages with the intent to cause fear of serious harm or death.

He was jailed for five years by Mrs Justice May at Exeter Crown Court, who told him that a severe sentence was necessary to deter others.

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