Man in court for Tesco bomb threats

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Philip McHugh, 51, of Milton Avenue, Clitheroe, Lancashire, appeared at Stevenage Magistrates' Court in Hertfordshire accused of attempting to blackmail the supermarket giant.

Unemployed McHugh was charged with two specimen counts of blackmail and two of making bomb hoaxes, by officers from Hertfordshire Police.

He will now appear at Luton Crown Court on August 8.

Detectives said that they were not looking for anyone else over the threats.

Stores in the Lancashire, Suffolk, Dyfed Powys, Fife, Strathclyde, Leicestershire, Humberside, West Mercia, West Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and London areas were forced to close on July 14 after threats were received.

Tesco said that financial demands had been made but had not paid.

The stores were reopened after searches of the supermarkets themselves and surrounding car parks, shops and access roads were carried out.

Hertfordshire Police has been leading the investigation involving a number of forces as the company has its headquarters in the county.

Other bodies including the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) and the Food Standards Agency were also involved.