Man jailed for throwing Derbyshire town into chaos with bomb hoax

Police were called to Victoria Street, Clay Cross, following reports that two men were stealing fuel from a van.

Ben Inquieti and a second man were found at the scene and arrested.

The 22-year-old told officers there was a bomb in his car and police cordoned off the area.

Fifty residents were evacuated as army bomb disposal experts checked the car in the early hours of June 26, 2013.

When police searched the car, they discovered a gun which was later found to be fake.

CLAY CROSS: Town chaos over ‘bomb hoax’ – with video

Inquieti, of The Glebe, Cossall, pleaded guilty to the bomb hoax and theft and was found guilty of the firearms offence.

He was jailed for a total of two years when he appeared at Derby Crown Court last Wednesday.

His 25-year-old accomplice was charged with two counts of stealing fuel and given a community order when he appeared at Chesterfield magistrates’ court in December 2013.

Chief Superintendent Debbie Mathews, who is in charge of policing Chesterfield, North East Derbyshire and Amber Valley, said: “We clearly need to take bomb threats very seriously and this case was no different.

“A large amount of resources, from all emergency services, were deployed that night and about 50 residents had to be evacuated while the bomb disposal team checked the car.

“Inquieti wasted resources that night which could have been better used elsewhere and he caused upheaval to the local community.

“It’s only fitting that he received a jail sentence.”