St Catherine's Vale firebomb threats of dying man

Richard Luce of St Catherine's Vale, off Wyld's Lane, Worcester, was sentenced over videolink at Worcester Crown Court on Monday after a request from the prison that he be released on compassionate, medical grounds as he battles cancer.

MORE STORIES

Malvern dad arrested over sex chats in paedophile hunter sting

Married couple in nightclub fight at the Flag in Worcester

The 50-year-old admitted making threats to commit criminal damage by destroying his own flat, claiming he had been in the Royal Marines and had access to explosives.

GUILTY: Richard Luce. Photo: West Mercia Police

He told the judge: "I'm going to die of cancer. I'm going to be dead in a month or two so it doesn't matter."

St Catherine's Vale threats of cancer patient

The incident happened on March 22 this year and Luce, described as 'wheelchair bound', by the judge has been remanded in custody since March 24.

MORE STORIES

Cocaine conspiracy - seven in court

Worcester man had 1,468 'cartoon' images of child sex abuse

Amiee Parkes, prosecuting, said Luce had threatened to 'burn the flat down'. Officers knocked on Luce's door and he answered. They described his flat as being 'in disarray' with 'furniture and other items strewn across the floor'. Officers asked him if he had made the threats and he said he had and that he had been 'suicidal since he was four years old'.

"He said that he hated the neighbours and said 'I will blow the place up'," said Miss Parkes. She also said he made offensive comments about their sexuality. "He said he would like to shoot them all between the eyes," she said.

Luce was arrested. He later told officers in interview he 'had access to explosives but they were not at his address'.

He has 13 convictions for 27 offences including for possession of a prohibited weapon and drug driving.

"The neighbours were concerned. They phoned the police to say they were concerned about the threat. There must have been some concern caused" she said.

Luce, who represented himself, said he had been 'told to plead guilty', disputed that there had been 'anything wrong with my flat' and that he did not have access to firearms or explosives.

"I have been told to lie in court - I didn't say those things in the first place. I was asked to plead guilty and say that I did" he said.

He added: "It didn't happen so, again, I have no say. It's irrelevant being here."

Judge Nicholas Cole described Luce's prognosis for the metastatic cancer as poor. He was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison.

As he has already served more than half this on remand, the sentence means he will be released immediately.

The judge said, because of his medical condition, Luce was 'unlikely to be able to commit further criminal acts, particularly of a sexual or violent nature'.