Man jailed after bomb hoax closes section of Blackburn town centre for three hours

Craig Slee, 50, of Logwood Street, Blackburn was found guilty of sparking a bomb scare outside Blackburn Town Hall earlier this year, and was sentenced at Preston Crown Court last Friday (April 24).

He was jailed for three years and was also given a restraining order banning him from entering a designated area of Backburn town centre until April 23, 2025.

Det Con Fiona Hall, of East Police, said: “This incident had a significant impact and I welcome the sentence which reflects the gravity of the offending.

"His actions and complete lack of regard for other people caused widespread and unnecessary worry over an already sensitive and concerning subject.”

Slee sparked a major alert after leaving items on two benches outside the Town Hall on King William Street on May 3.

The items included an open laptop with a mobile phone secured to the screen with electrical tape, and a taped up record box with ISIS written on the front.

Armed police and army bomb disposal experts were dispatched after concerned members of the public raised the alarm.

The area was cordoned off for three hours before the items were taken to Greenbank Police Station where they were scanned to make sure they did not contain explosives.

Slee was arrested a short time later after he made himself known to officers at the scene.