Man in court over Tesco bomb hoax

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Philip McHugh, 51, faces charges of trying to blackmail £1 million from the retailer as well as making a series of bomb threats which saw 14 stores closed for security checks last month.

McHugh, from Clitheroe, Lancashire, appeared before judge Michael Baker QC at Luton Crown Court.

He is facing two specimen charges of blackmail, on July 7 and July 13 this year, and two further charges of making bomb hoaxes on July 14.

McHugh, wearing a grey prison sweatshirt, spoke only to confirm his name during the brief hearing on Friday. No pleas were entered to any of the charges.

There was no application for bail and McHugh was remanded back into custody until November 5 when he will appear at St Albans Crown Court to enter pleas to the charges.

As part of his alleged blackmail campaign, it is said McHugh's threats saw Tesco stores evacuated last month, with shops temporarily closed in Dyfed Powys in Wales, Fife and Strathclyde in Scotland as well as Lancashire, Suffolk, Leicestershire, Humberside, Herefordshire, West Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and London.

The stores reopened after searches of the buildings and surrounding areas.

McHugh was arrested in Clitheroe on July 23.

Hertfordshire Police, which led the investigation focusing on Tesco's headquarters in Cheshunt said no-one else was being sought in connection with the inquiry.