A MAN who admitted threatening to bomb a Portland school has been banned from the island for three years.

Lee Adrian Pattle, 30, was also jailed for a total of 18 weeks after admitting a number of charges at Bournemouth Magistrates Court.

Pattle, who gave a ‘care of’ address as Walker Grove in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, admitted making a threat to bomb St George’s Primary School, the court was told.

As reported by the Echo in September, staff at the school were put on high alert and a letter sent to reassure parents after the threat.

Speaking after the hearing, headteacher Jo Luxon said: “I would like to praise the services involved for such prompt and efficient action. The safety of the children and parents is paramount to what we do and I am very relieved to hear the outcome of this incident.”

The defendant faced charges of possession of cannabis, a class B drug, assaulting a police officer, two counts of assault, two counts of using threatening, intimidating, insulting or abusive words or behaviour with intent to provoke unlawful violence and one count of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.

He was jailed for four weeks for the assault on the police officer, which took place in Weymouth, six weeks on one assault charge which took place in Bournemouth and eight weeks on another, which took place on Portland, with all sentences to be served consecutively.

Magistrates handed him a sentence of four weeks on each of the two charges of using threatening words or behaviour with intent, which both took place on Portland, but these are to be served concurrently, making a total prison sentence of 18 weeks.

No separate penalties were given for the possession of cannabis charge and the charge of using threatening words or behaviour, which related to the threat to bomb St George’s School.

Pattle was also handed an ASBO for three years banning him from Portland or from using or inciting others to use threats towards staff at the school on Clarence Road or behaving in a way which could cause alarm or distress to anyone within Dorset.

Officer in the case, Police Constable Dale Collins said: “This is a good outcome so far as the police are concerned. It is important for these types of offences to be dealt with effectively and robustly.”