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Yorkshire Post
March 13, 2014
A Bradford man has walked free from court after admitting prank-calling Buckingham Palace and telling them a bomb was hidden inside – because he “just wanted to scare them a bit”.
Pest caller Khalid Farooq, 36, rang the palace the day after his birthday on January 26th this year, after finding the switchboard number on the internet, Bradford Magistrates Court heard.
He later admitted to police that he “forgot to use the no-caller ID code”.
Switchboard worker Margaret Power took the call, during which a male voice said there was a bomb planted on the palace.
But when Ms Power asked where, she heard clumsy caller Farooq sniggering before he hung up, prosecutor Paul Ramsey told the court.
Mr Ramsey added the prank “wasn’t particularly sophisticated.”
The court heard police were alerted and traced the number to Farooq’s home address in Bradford, where he was arrested on January 28.
The court heard police had found Farooq to be a regular pest caller while tracing down his number on their system.
Mr Ramsey told the court: “There had been numerous reports against him of making nuisance telephone calls to the police.”
“During the procedure he stated ‘I did do it, but I’m sorry.”
Farooq, who has underlying mental health problems, later told police voices in his head told him to carry out the prank.
He told cops: “I rang the palace but forgot to use the no caller ID code.
“I just wanted to scare them a little bit. I understand now that it was wrong.”
Defending Farooq, Bassra Petheridge said: “This is clearly a man who is intelligent, he has a degree but has been struck down with mental illness, which isn’t his fault.
“He has regular contact with a care worker and is seeing a psychiatrist.“He takes medication two times a day.”
Farooq, who the court heard had previously spent time at Lynfield Mount psychiatric hospital, pleaded guilty to malicious communications.
District Judge Susan Bouch told Mr Farooq: “I’m not sure probation services would help a great deal as there would be some conflicts which would emerge.
“I’m giving you a community order for a period of 6 months with low level activity.
“You will report to probation services for 15 days.
“This is a serious offence and I know you are aware of the impact of that.
“I know you don’t wish to have this happen again.
“I understand you have underlying mental health difficulties you need to address, and therefore it would not be appropriate to impose a curfew.”
He was handed a six-month community order and told to hand over £110 in court costs, which included a £60 victim surcharge.
