Man threatened to bomb asylum seeker hotel

Ben McCormack must not enter Epping town centre as part of the conditions of his sentence

A man who threatened to bomb a hotel housing asylum seekers has been sentenced.

Ben McCormack, 40, of Hudgell Road, Stansted, Essex, was in a pub in Epping on 24 August when witnesses heard him using racist language and swearing.

When asked to leave by staff, he told them he was going to bomb the premises and the nearby Bell Hotel, which has housed asylum seekers.

He was given an 18-month community order at Chelmsford Crown Court on Tuesday.

On the day of the incident, McCormack also carried out a racially motivated assault on a member of the public, said police.

McCormack wrongly believed the stranger was an asylum seeker residing at the hotel and directed obscene, racist and threatening language towards him.

He also punched and pushed the man.

In court, McCormack admitted two offences of making threats to destroy property and one offence of racially aggravated assault.

He must not enter Epping town centre as part of the conditions of his sentence and he must carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.

Det Con Emma Jackson said: "McCormack's actions were, by his own admission, shameful.

"Intoxicated, in the middle of the day, he used racist language and made threats in front of pub customers and staff."