A TEENAGER has admitted making hoax bomb threats which sparked the evacuation of thousands of UK and US schools - including schools in York and North Yorkshire.

George Duke-Cohan, 19, was arrested in March following bomb threats which led to more than 400 schools being evacuated. In April, while under investigation for that crime, he sent a mass email to schools around the UK and US, which claimed pipe bombs had been planted on the premises.

In York, schools affected in March included Our Lady Queen of Martyrs RC Primary School in Hamilton Drive and Hempland Primary School, where school bags, coats and lunch bags were searched. In April, North Yorkshire Police confirmed schools in the region had been affected, and urged caution when opening warning emails.

The National Crime Agency, which worked with North Yorkshire Police, found Duke-Cohan also made bomb threats to a United Airlines flight travelling from the UK to San Francisco, which led to the quarantining of the aircraft, part of the airport, and 295 passengers when it landed in the US.

Duke-Cohan, from Hertfordshire, was arrested by NCA officers for the third time at his home in Watford on Friday, August 31. On Monday, September 3, he admitted three counts of making hoax bomb threats at Luton Magistrates’ Court, and will be sentenced at Luton Crown Court later this month.

A spokeswoman for North Yorkshire Police said: “The outcome of this case sends a clear message to anyone who thinks they can get away with causing widespread panic and concern among members of the public.

“The hoaxes caused upset and inconvenience to thousands of people across York and North Yorkshire, not to mention the impact on the emergency services’ and investigators’ time.”

Marc Horsfall, senior investigating officer for the NCA, said: “He carried out these threats hidden behind a computer screen for his own enjoyment, with no consideration for the effect he was having on others.

“Despite being arrested and having conditions imposed restricting his use of technology, he persistently broke those conditions to continue his wave of violent threats.

“Law enforcement take such offences extremely seriously. This investigation proves that operating online does not offer offenders anonymity. We will identify you and you will be brought before the courts.”