Latest news with #BadburyParkPrimary
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Gardener is cleared of making school bomb threat after receptionist misunderstood his Welsh accent sparking six-hour evacuation
A gardener has been cleared of making bomb threats against a school after a receptionist misunderstood his Welsh accent. The confusion sparked a six-hour evacuation of Badbury Park Primary in Swindon in February 25. James Morgan, 36, called to ask if any of the primary children would be 'back home or in school' because he was litter picking nearby. But owing to his thick welsh accent and quick speech pattern, the receptionist thought he said 'bomb in school'. In panic she called 999 and police evacuated Badbury Park Primary, setting up a 200-metre cordon and bringing in specialist officers and sniffer dogs to search the school. Staff and nearby residents were forced out of their homes and workplaces for six hours until the all-clear was given. Mr Morgan was accused of intentionally communicating false information and the court heard that he initially rang to ask if he had time to litter-pick in a nearby park before children left school, as he had done the previous week. Swindon Crown Court heard that Mr Morgan rang and asked: 'I want to do some litter-picking, can you tell me if the kids are on half term? Are the kids back home or in school?' Swindon Crown Court (pictured) heard that the receptionist misunderstood his welsh accent and believed he was making a bomb threat against the school Prosecutor Nicholas Mather said the receptionist heard Mr Morgan say 'bomb in the school' before hanging up. The court also heard that she believed the caller was speaking with an Indian or Pakistani accent and couldn't understand anything he was saying. The gardener, who works for Tony Benger Landscaping, said he decided to end the brief phone call after it became apparent that the school receptionist was unable to understand him. A jury took two hours to find Mr Morgan, of Marlborough, Wiltshire, not guilty of intentionally communicating false information.
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Gardener wrongly accused of making bomb threat to school over Welsh accent mix-up
A GARDENER was wrongly accused of making a bomb threat to a school — when the receptionist misunderstood his Welsh accent. James Morgan asked if any of the primary children would be 'back home or in school' as he worked nearby. But owing to his quick speaking and thick accent, the receptionist thought he said 'bomb in school', a court heard. She told the head, who called 999. Police evacuated Badbury Park Primary in Swindon in February. Staff and nearby residents were allowed back six hours later after the all-clear. The city's crown court heard Morgan, 36, rang to ask if he had time to litter-pick in a nearby park before children left school. Prosecutor Nicholas Mather said the receptionist heard Morgan say 'bomb in the school' before hanging up. But Morgan said he ended the 31-second call after it became apparent that she could not make out what he was saying. A jury took two hours to find Morgan, of Marlborough, Wilts, not guilty of intentionally communicating false information. Hot air balloon crashes into UK primary school at international festival 1
