**A 19-year-old man who phoned the White House and claimed there was a bomb in New York City has been sentenced.**Thomas Hutchinson, of Durlston Crescent, Sheffield, sparked an international terrorism investigation with his “drunken prank” in May 2008.
During a barbecue Hutchinson, then 17, told a White House operator there was a bomb in Madison Square Gardens, Sheffield Magistrates’ Court was told.
He was given a six-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months.
Stephen Acaster, prosecuting, said the operator had pressed a malicious call trace button and the call was found to be a hoax and located to the UK.
“The distress and real upset caused to Americans by such a hoax is hard to imagine”
District Judge Tony Browne
The US secret service, the FBI, the New York City Police Department and the Counter Terrorism Unit in the UK were all involved in the subsequent investigation.
The call was made at about 0030 BST on 10 May, about 1930 local time in Washington DC, after Hutchinson had been drinking with friends at the barbecue.
The court heard Hutchinson was “giggling” while he made the call and others were laughing but told him to stop when they realised the implications.
‘Sleepless nights’
Mr Acaster said there was “great concern” in the US when the call was first received but it was soon realised it was a hoax and Madison Square Gardens was not evacuated.
Defending, Geoff Flemming said his defendant had no previous convictions and had suffered sleepless nights and anxiety as a result of the case.
The solicitor said it was unlikely Hutchinson would be a “welcome visitor” to the United States in the future as a result of the conviction.
Hutchinson initially denied the charge when he was interviewed by police but later pleaded guilty in court.
Sentencing, District Judge Tony Browne said: "One minute’s thoughtlessness by you, one moment of madness, one drunken prank, all had very serious consequences.
“The reaction to a bomb hoax involving central New York is understandably taken initially very seriously.”
The judge added: “The distress and real upset caused to Americans by such a hoax is hard to imagine.”
Hutchinson was also ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work and pay £70 costs.