A teenage boy who sparked an anthrax scare at the offices of the Evening Mail in Barrow has been locked up for one year.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, sent a threatening letter and some powder to the paper’s Abbey Road offices on October 18 following anthrax attacks in America.

The editor’s secretary, Cheryl Draper, found a gritty substance in a letter while sorting through the morning’s post, magistrates were told.

And before the substance could be identified, the reception area of the building had to be sealed off and 19 members of staff put into quarantine before washing in a diluted bleach solution.

The court was told that the substance was later found to be talcum powder and powdered air freshener.

The all-clear was given at 1.30pm but after another envelope was discovered, this time addressed to BAE Systems and again containing a threatening letter and powder, the building was sealed off again.

Fingerprints on the envelope were traced to the teenage boy who denied involvement, but later confessed.

The court was told in mitigation how he became depressed after posting the letter and suffered fits of crying, even contemplating taking his own life.

A 12-month youth detention centre and training order was imposed.

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