‘Bizarre’ bomb hoax by Ministry of Justice worker - Andre Lake made bogus calls to police
Published: 22 October 2010
by JOSH LOEB
A CANNABIS-smoking office worker responsible for false bomb threats at the Ministry of Justice made hoax phone calls to police because he wanted to leave work early, a court heard on Friday.
Andre Lake, who was employed as a youth justice worker, made calls on August 14 in which he claimed there was a bomb in his office.
At Westminster Magistrates’ Court he admitted communicating false information about a bomb and possession of cannabis.
The court heard that Lake, 26, had phoned police and claimed to be the building’s head of security. After investigating, officers searched the defendant’s home and found 12 bags of herbal cannabis.
Prosecutor Darren Watts said: “Police received a call to the Ministry of Justice building in Petty France in relation to a bomb threat. A male voice said there is a bomb in the Ministry of Justice before hanging up. That call was made at 7.15am and subsequent inquiries traced it to within the building. A second call was received at 8.30am. The caller reported himself to be head of security at the Ministry of Justice but was in fact the defendant.”
Mr Watts said the calls had been made from a part of the building that could only be accessed via a swipe card. Investigators found that Lake was the only person who had used such a card to gain access when the calls were made.
The court heard Lake had told officers his intention was to get released early from work, that he did not enjoy his work, he had no annual leave left and simply wanted to leave work early.
Hamza Adesanu, for Lake, said although his client’s behaviour had been “bizarre” he had been working well.
Lake, from Harrow, was bailed to appear for sentencing in December.