A man has been charged following a bomb hoax call that led to the evacuation of a Swindon primary school and a large-scale emergency response.
James Morgan, 36, of Rabley Wood View in Marlborough, has been charged with communicating false information after a hoax call was made to Badbury Park Primary School on Sunday afternoon (25 February). The call prompted an immediate police response, with emergency services rushing to the scene to ensure the safety of pupils, staff, and local residents.
A 200-metre cordon was swiftly put in place, and Rainscombe Road was closed for several hours while officers carried out a full sweep of the school to rule out any threat. The situation caused significant disruption, with those in the vicinity forced to evacuate until the area was declared safe.
Morgan was arrested at his home address less than an hour after police confirmed the building was secure, with officers taking him into custody around 8pm. He has since been remanded in custody and is set to appear at Swindon Magistrates’ Court tomorrow morning (27 February).
Superintendent Steve Cox commented on the incident, saying: “Hoax calling is an offence we treat extremely seriously as it diverts emergency resources from genuine incidents where lives could be at risk.
“The swift and thorough investigation by our officers highlights our zero tolerance towards this type of criminality. We appreciate the patience of those affected by this disruption and hope this quick resolution reassures the public that we are committed to keeping Wiltshire safe.”
