A homeless man from the Midlands has been sentenced to prison after making a series of terrifying hoax calls in which he threatened to orchestrate a 9/11-style 'bloodbath' while dressed 'like Rambo'.
The Disturbing 999 Calls
Steven Ridley, 53 and of no fixed abode, called the emergency services at 5.27pm on June 22. During the call, he chillingly informed the handler that his friend in the IRA was plotting to place bombs underneath police vehicles and blow them to 'smithereens'.
Prosecutor James Hudson detailed the threats to Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, stating Ridley warned: "You better take this matter seriously. My mate is in the IRA. Tonight he is going to blow up your police cars at Newcastle to smithereens." Ridley further threatened to "blow you up" and continued to make threats even after his arrest, claiming he was going to kill police officers.
A Life of Chaos and Mental Health Struggles
The court heard that Ridley lives a chaotic, homeless lifestyle and has a long criminal record of 170 offences. In his defence, Steve Hennessy explained that Ridley has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, a condition that is severely worsened by his alcoholism.
Mr Hennessy stated that Ridley was "blind drunk" during the 999 call and that when he drinks excessively, he stops taking his medication and his life descends into a "spiral of chaos". The court was also told that Ridley had been a patient at Harplands Hospital between March 11 and May 12 and that he would rather live on the streets than be housed with drug users, whom he fears.
Judge's Sentencing and Remarks
Ridley pleaded guilty to sending a communication threatening death or serious harm. Sentencing him to 14 months in prison, Judge Richard McConaghy addressed the defendant directly.
The judge recounted how Ridley had detailed a plan to kill officers and said it would be a "bloodbath like 9/11" with him "dressed up like Rambo". While acknowledging Ridley's chaotic life and lack of sophistication, stating he was not "realistically going to get hold of a bomb", Judge McConaghy emphasised the serious impact of the threats.
"It was a serious threat," the judge said. "It impacted on those who had to deal with it and impacted on resources. It had to be properly investigated. Your offending is so serious only immediate prison is appropriate."
