Runcorn man sentenced to 28 months for sending hoax emails to schools

We can confirm that a man has been sentenced to 28 months in custody for sending hoax emails to three schools in Merseyside.

Darren Rigby, 21, of Worthington Close, in Runcorn, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today (Monday 1 June) after admitting three counts of sending communication threatening death or serious harm.

He was also sentenced after pleading guilty to possession of a controlled class B drug (cannabis) and possession of an offensive weapon in a private place (a baton).

Last month, we received three separate reports that hoax emails had been sent to Holly Lodge Girls’ College in West Derby (Monday 19 January), Greenbank High School in Southport (Friday 23 January) and The Belvidere Academy in Liverpool (Monday 26 January).

Following an investigation, Rigby was identified as the suspect and he was arrested on Wednesday 28 January.

He was also issued with three Restraining Orders prohibiting further contact with the schools involved.

Detective Chief Inspector John Black said: “I sincerely hope that our investigation and the arrest of Rigby only days after the third incident was reported shows how extremely seriously we take these reports.

“Rigby clearly intended to cause fear and alarm not only for staff and children at the three schools, but also parents and the wider community.

“This will never be tolerated and as soon as we received these reports we carried out a thorough investigation which identified Rigby as the suspect. He had no option but to admit what he’d done after the evidence we were able to gather.

“He thought he could hide behind his keyboard and there would be no consequences, but it wasn’t long before he was in handcuffs and sat in the back of a police car.

“I would like to take this opportunity to once again reassure parents and carers that schools across Merseyside have well established and practiced procedures to keep children and school staff safe when schools are made aware of potential incidents or threats.

“This work will continue and as a police force we will always look to provide advice to schools if required and carry out enquiries if such incidents occur in the future.”