Prisoner claimed he had planted a bomb at Warwick Castle

Jamie Clarke, aged 30, was serving part of a 17-year sentence in HMP Rye Hill prison in Onley, near Rugby, when he passed a letter to a member of staff which contained the bomb threat.

Northampton Crown Court heard Clarke’s letter claimed that bomb was due to explode at Warwick Castle on July 27. Security officials at the Warwick Castle site then searched the grounds for any sign of a suspicious package but did not find anything.

Clarke had also made another bomb threat in the prison three days earlier.

The court heard that he had told prison guards that he had planted a bomb in the prison and was going to detonate it with a remote control.

As a result, the prison was put on lockdown and Clarke’s cell was extensively searched for any sign of the bomb.

Clarke pleaded guilty to two charges of making a bomb hoax and one charge of possessing an offensive weapon, namely a metal chair leg.

The court heard that Clarke was sentenced to 17 years in jail after he was convicted of a series of charges including rape, robbery and burglary.

Recorder Christopher Tickle sentenced Clarke to four months in prison for the bomb hoax charges and two months for possession of the offensive weapon.

He will serve all the sentences consecutively making a total of 10 months, which will be added to his current sentence.