A former pupil who called a Dundee primary school using a “Chinese accent” and told staff there was a bomb was described as “immature” when he appeared at court.
David Joseph Somerville (21), of Scotscraig Grove, Dundee, admitted at the sheriff court on Tuesday that on March 29 at his home or elsewhere he communicated by telephone information that there was a bomb at Ardler Primary School.
Depute fiscal Nicola Gillespie told the court a school secretary answered the phone and a voice said, “I have a message for your school there is a bomb.”
She said the phone went dead and the secretary had called the police, who quickly decided it had been a hoax and there was no evacuation of the school.
Police traced the telephone number used and Somerville was arrested at his home the following day. Upon caution and charge, the fiscal added, the accused admitted the offence.
Solicitor Ian Houston said it was quite clear from the evidence available to him that the school took the call almost immediately as a hoax, he said it was a “childlike voice, with giggling noises and said in a Chinese accent,” and there had been no evacuation necessary.
“He gives me the impression that he is very immature,” Mr Houston said. “He and a friend were mucking about on a computer just general fooling around and he decided to play a joke, which clearly it wasn’t.”
Somerville had sentence deferred by Sheriff George Way until May 17 for reports. Sheriff Way granted Somerville bail, with the special condition that he does not attempt to approach or contact the school.