OAP jailed for two years over anti-America threats

A PENSIONER is serving a two-year sentence after sending email threats to the US Embassy, including claims that Barack Obama “was to be killed”.

Isabella Jackson, 68, pleaded guilty to three charges of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner after sending e-mails and letters from her home in Methil.

In one instance, she caused a flight to be grounded at an American airport after claiming there was a bomb on board.

It is understood that she also threatened to cause an explosion at the US Embassy, in Grosvenor Square, London.

It is understood that some of the threats made reference to al-Qaeda.

However, it is not clear whether she claimed to be a member of the terrorist group, or what her motivation was.

Officials from the embassy contacted the Metropolitan Police, who worked alongside Fife Constabulary, and the woman’s laptop was seized by officers.

The sentencing came to light after it was discussed in a Fife Council meeting. One charge related to e-mails sent between 16 March and 1 July, 2011, to the US Embassy in London.

These included a threat to cause an explosion at the embassy and a claim that there was a bomb on an aeroplane.

They also contained a threat that the president of the US “was to be killed”.

Between 4 June and 6 July, 2011, she sent threatening letters to the same embassy.

And between 5 and 7 December, 2011, jackson sent threatening e-mails to the US embassy in Paris, including a claim that there was a bomb in the building in Avenue Gabriel, just off the Champs-Elysee.

Jackson had been on bail when the offences took place, and councillors were told by Chief Inspector Graeme Kinmond, of Fife Constabulary, that her offending had taken place over a longer period than covered by the charges, and had also included phone calls.

Councillor David Alexander, who represents Leven, Kennoway and Largo, said: “We were told she had sent serious and threatening e-mails, and made telephone calls, over a two-year period to the US embassy.

“I said a two-year sentence seems severe, but we were told this had caused police huge problems – she never stopped.

“I asked if there was mental health issues and was told the court decided there was not.

“He did stress that an aeroplane had to be grounded because of this.

“There was no suggestion of what her motives were.”

Jackson, who more recently had been living at a sheltered housing complex in Buckhaven, pleaded guilty at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on 31 December last year, and was sentenced on 23 January.

Mr Kinmond told councillors during the meeting: “She caused a great deal of trouble with her conduct. The court understandably had to take a very stern line.

“Globally, this caused a lot of problems and a great deal of work for us.”

No-one was available to comment at either of her former homes in Methil or Buckhaven.