Man jailed 26 weeks for false suicide vest claim on London bus

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 30 Oct, 13:59 · Archive

A man has been jailed for 26 weeks after falsely claiming he was wearing a suicide vest on a bus in Wandsworth.

Abdul Lasharie, 47, of Testerton Walk in Notting Hill, was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court after being convicted of making a bomb hoax on a London bus in Wandsworth on August 15. He had communicated false information to passengers, claiming he was wearing a suicide vest, causing widespread alarm and prompting an armed police response.

Lasharie denied the offence when tried at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court but was found guilty on September 17. He was convicted of communicating information which he knew or believed to be false, with the intention of making people believe a bomb was present on the bus.

The court heard that his actions had a profound effect on those present. Magistrates stated: 'The effect on the public is difficult to imagine,' and added that Lasharie had 'terrified people on the bus'.

Lasharie was also convicted on a separate charge of racially aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress. This arose from his use of threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour during the same incident. He denied this charge but was also found guilty.

Magistrates determined that the offence was serious enough to warrant an immediate custodial sentence. In addition to his prison term, Lasharie was ordered to pay £400 in prosecution costs. The court also imposed two separate compensation awards of £200 in connection with the bomb hoax offence.

How it is being reported

• Armed police swarmed after man told 'terrified' bus passengers he had suicide vestA man has been jailed for 26 weeks after claiming he was wearing a suicide vest on a bus in Wandsworth, terrifying passengers and prompting an armed police response.This Is Local London · 30 Oct, 13:38
• Armed police swarmed after man told 'terrified' bus passengers he had suicide vestA man has been jailed for 26 weeks after claiming he was wearing a suicide vest on a bus in Wandsworth, terrifying passengers and prompting an armed police response.Croydon Guardian · 30 Oct, 13:38
• Armed police swarmed after man told 'terrified' bus passengers he had suicide vestA man has been jailed for 26 weeks after claiming he was wearing a suicide vest on a bus in Wandsworth, terrifying passengers and prompting an armed police response.Wandsworth Guardian · 30 Oct, 13:38

In this story: Abdul Lasharie · Wandsworth · Wimbledon Magistrates' Court · Notting Hill

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