‘Anthrax’ hoaxer posted white powder to councillor
MAN WHO SENT PACKAGES TO 16 WOMEN POLITICIANS LOCKED UP FOR FIVE YEARS
A FAIRGROUND worker who sent hoax white powder - in some cases in envelopes marked ‘Anthrax’ - to female politicians has been jailed for five years.
Richard Hayes, 40, sent 16 letters containing the powder to the offices and home addresses of MPs, MEPs and local councillors over a threeyear period.
One of his victims was Manchester councillor Lianne Williams, a Lib Dem who represented West Didsbury from 2009-11.
Exeter Crown Court heard one politician went to hospital after opening a package and the accident and emergency ward was put into ‘lockdown’ while the powder was analysed.
Staff were quarantined in constituency offices on other occasions, with police in protective suits called in to deal with packages sent by Hayes.
One local councillor who received one of his letters decided not to stand for re-election to protect herself and her young children.
The white powder inside each of the packages was found to be a harmless mix of flour, protein powder and bicarbonate of soda. Hayes committed the offences between 2011 and 2014 but was not caught until 2018, when he was cautioned for harassing a former partner.
His DNA matched samples takes from the lick strips and stamps on the envelope, with his
Lianne Williams handwriting also similar to the addresses written on the front.
Mrs Justice May jailed Hayes for five years, highlighting how he had targeted women in public office.
“Over a three-year period, you posted envelopes containing a white powder to politicians including MPs, MEPs and local councillors,” the judge told Hayes.
“All of them were women. I have read all of the statements setting out the distress and disruption caused by your actions.
“In each case, the powder turned out to be inert but none of your victims, nor the postal service, or the emergency services attending had any way of knowing this.”
Rachel Drake, prosecuting, said ‘extensive investigations’ took place into who was sending the hoax letters but Hayes was not identified until last year.
Hayes was arrested by counterterrorism officers on July 18 and later admitted 16 charges of making a noxious substance hoax, contrary to Section 114 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001.
Representing Hayes, Emily Cook described her client as a ‘gentle individual’ who wished to apologise to those affected by his actions.