A Nottingham woman has been sentenced for a devious bomb hoax targeting the charitable foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Paige Fara Williams, 30, was handed a 12-month suspended prison sentence at Nottingham Magistrates' Court after admitting to sending malicious communications to Archewell, the organisation founded by the couple after they stepped back from royal duties.
A Calculated Campaign of Harassment
Williams's actions were not an isolated incident but part of a wider, calculated campaign of harassment. The court heard how she sent a series of threatening and menacing emails, one of which falsely claimed a bomb had been planted at the organisation's address.
This malicious act triggered an immediate and necessary security response, wasting valuable police resources and causing significant distress.
Mental Health Mitigation
In her defence, the court was told that Williams was suffering from significant mental health issues at the time of the offences. Her lawyer stated she had experienced a 'manic episode' and had since been diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD).
The district judge, noting her early guilty plea and her efforts towards rehabilitation, deemed a suspended sentence appropriate. The sentence also includes a 12-month community order with 15 rehabilitation activity days.
A Pattern of Malicious Behaviour
This conviction is not Williams's first. It was revealed that she has a previous conviction for sending a similar threatening communication to the Daily Telegraph newspaper. This pattern of behaviour highlights the persistent nature of her actions.
The sentencing serves as a stark warning that malicious communications and bomb hoaxes are treated with the utmost seriousness by the judiciary, regardless of the target, and can carry severe custodial consequences.
