Sergio Costa cost retailers and restaurants at The Oracle in Reading around £350,000 after a suspicious package was found in the men's toilets

By James Aldridge

A police cordon during The Oracle bomb scare in Reading that occurred. Credit: James Aldridge/getreading

The man behind The Oracle bomb hoax in Reading has been jailed.

Sergio Costa, 46, of Elm Park Road, Reading, Berkshire admitted planting a suspicious package in the men's toilets of The Oracle shopping centre when he appeared at Reading Crown Court on Monday, October 29.

The court that Costa had been working as a cleaner at The Oracle when he planted the fake bomb on Tuesday, June 12.

At first, he alerted other members of staff to the problem, in a ruse to be regarded by his colleagues as a "hero".

The 'device' was 'discovered' shortly after 9am, causing the whole shopping centre to be evacuated and a 100 metre cordon put in place.

Police officers guarded the cordon, which was in place all day, and the British Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal was called in to defuse it.

But when the package was extracted, the device was found to be "an elaborate hoax".

The package was actually a printed circuit board with two batteries and white powder taped together.

Police investigators then used forensic evidence to identify Costa.

He was arrested on Tuesday, July 3, and was charged with creating the bomb hoax - bomb hoax – placing an article with intent to cause fear of explosion or ignition on Thursday, August 2.

During a search of his property and service areas of The Oracle, parts that made up the 'bomb' were found.

Costa appeared in the dock with a Portuguese interpretor.

Selwyn Shapiro, prosecuting, highlighted projected costs accrued by businesses in The Oracle and by the police against Costa.

The hoax cost businesses around £350,000

Andy Briggs, general manager of The Oracle, estimated that £348,711.80 of potential profits were lost.

Meanwhile, Chief Inspector Emma Burroughs of Thames Valley Police estimated the operation had cost the force £10,897.

Defending, John Simmons QC said Costa "wanted to be a hero" after having a difficult relationship with his manager and supervisor.

He also highlighted that Costa had a stress related collapse at work on two occasions, and called his actions on the day "a nervous breakdown".

At the hearing, Costa admitted one count of placing an article with intent contrary to section 3(1) (a) of the Criminal Law Act 1977.

His father was present in the public gallery.

"I cannot begin to imagine the fear which must have been caused to shoppers caught up in the events of that day"

Sentencing Costa, Judge Angela Morris said: "I cannot begin to imagine the fear which must have been caused to shoppers caught up in the events of that day let alone the cost to the public purse occasioned by the need to direct 32 police officers to the scene to cordon off the whole area.

"You have a caring and supportive family and the impact of this offence upon them is already apparent.

"But, on any view, this was a premeditated and determined act of making and placing a device which appeared to be a bomb in a place where many shoppers would present in order to seek attention for yourself."

He was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay £170 in costs.

Mr Simmons QC had suggested an alternative sentence, which would have involved regular psychiatric assessment, a lengthy suspended sentence and unpaid work.

This was put forward because Costa cares for his partner, who has regular epileptic fits.