A 22-year-old man has been sentenced to one year in prison by a New York court for making a series of hoax bomb threats against UK hospitals and public venues. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the Metropolitan Police and the US Department for Homeland Security into dozens of malicious calls. These threats caused significant disruption, including hospital lockdowns and emergency security sweeps across London.

The court heard that David Hart made 95 calls to UK numbers between late October and mid-November 2023, with 66 targeting locations in London. His targets included seven hospitals, two police control rooms, a cancer support center, and several bars and restaurants. In recorded evidence, Hart was heard telling a hospital operator they had "12 seconds to get out" before a supposed device would explode.

While some recipients were skeptical, the Metropolitan Police noted that institutions were forced to take costly precautions, with one hospital entering a full lockdown. US authorities prosecuted Hart after Scotland Yard traced the sustained calls, some of which lasted nearly 30 minutes, back to his New York residence. The court was satisfied that Hart intended for his calls to be received as genuine threats to public safety.

Hart appeared at the US District Court for the Northern District of New York on January 6 to receive his sentence. The Metropolitan Police released recordings of the hoaxes following the conclusion of the legal proceedings to highlight the severity of his actions. Authorities expect the successful cross-border prosecution to serve as a deterrent against international cyber-harassment and hoaxing.

Key Takeaways

David Hart received a one-year prison sentence for making 95 hoax calls to the UK from New York in late 2023.

The targets included seven hospitals and Westminster Abbey, forcing emergency lockdowns and security searches at several sites.

The conviction was the result of a joint international investigation between the Metropolitan Police and US Homeland Security.

Adapted From

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jan/08/man-jailed-in-new-york-for-hoax-bomb-threats-to-uk-hospitals-and-venues

A good result but I can’t find any reports on what motivated this criminal’s actions.

Should have given him 10 to 15 years.