Teenager admits poison threat to Prince William
A British schoolboy today admitted sending a letter apparently containing a deadly poison to Prince William.
Paul Smith, 17, also sent a bottle of aromatherapy oil laced with caustic soda to the Prime Minister’s wife Cherie Blair at 10 Downing Street.
Appearing before Glasgow High Court today, Smith, of High Mains Road, Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire, admitted sending letters containing a powder which he claimed was either anthrax or ricin to various people and organisations.
These included Prince William – whose letter was sent to his hall of residence at the University of St Andrews – the House of Commons, Scotland Yard, the Scottish Parliament, the Home Office and the BBC.
The 44 letters, which were sent between August 20 2001 and February last year, caused fear and alarm to those opening the envelopes who inhaled the contents, the court heard.
Sentence was deferred until October 31 at the High Court in Edinburgh for background reports.
Smith also pleaded guilty to sending packages containing a substance which claimed to be eucalyptus aromatherapy oil along with instructions to rub the substance on to the face and hands.
It contained sodium hydroxide – better known as caustic soda – which can burn the skin and damage the throat and stomach lining if inhaled.
These packages were sent to Mrs Blair and to Margaret Ashcroft, an aide to Liberal Democrat MSP Mike Rumbles.
The packages were sent between February 26 and 27 last year.
Smith appeared alongside a second teenager, 16-year-old Martin Jeffries, also from Dumbarton.
Jeffries pleaded not guilty to the two charges admitted by Smith and these pleas were accepted by the Crown.
Smith pleaded not guilty to a third charge of sending letters to Avril Davie, the headteacher of Knoxland Primary School in Dumbarton demanding £550 and threatening her, her family and pupils with violence.
This plea was accepted by the Crown.
Smith was released on bail following today’s hearing before Lord Kingarth.
