Crossbow-wielding man who sent death threats to Labour minister is jailed

Lisa Nandy received death threats from a constituent who was armed with a crossbow when he opened his door to police, a court has heard.

Ryan Breheny, from Wigan, threatened to kill Ms Nandy in emails sent to her constituency office on June 3.

Earlier that day, Breheny had called 999 and told police he had been “offered an AK-47” assault rifle and was going to “execute everyone” in a hospital.

During the same call to police, the 48-year-old claimed he had access to chemicals and spoke of how easy it would be to build a bomb.

Less than an hour later, he sent the emails to the office of Ms Nandy, the Labour MP for Wigan, who is now the Culture, Media and Sport Secretary.

In a victim statement read to the court, her office manager said: “I was shocked and genuinely believed that this man could’ve carried out the threats that he was making.”

When police arrived at Breheny’s house later that day, he was seen with a crossbow. He was told to drop the weapon, but instead loaded it and opened his door to officers while holding it.

Breheny was jailed for three years and three months at Bolton Crown Court for making a threat to kill, making threatening communications, and common assault.

A Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) spokesman said: “Ryan Breheny, 48, called the emergency services just after 6.15pm on June 3 this year. He told the police operator he wanted to make a complaint about the NHS. He then said that he had been ‘offered an AK47 and was going to execute everyone in the hospital wearing a uniform’.

“He continued to make threats, using the word ‘execute’ multiple times and referring to the specific weapons he was planning on using. During the call, Breheny referred to chemicals he could get hold of and how easy it was to make a bomb.

“Less than an hour later, he sent two threatening email messages to an MP’s constituency office. The messages contained threats to kill the MP.”

Police went to Breheny’s house the same evening, and as officers knocked on the door, one saw him in the house with a crossbow.

The CPS added in the statement: “Breheny was told to drop the weapon, but instead began to load it and opened the door with the weapon in his hand.

“He was later arrested in his house after he dropped the weapon. Further weapons were seized from inside his home including, slingshots, rifles, a baton and a machete.”

In a police interview, he admitted sending the emails, but claimed that he had no intention of carrying out his threats.

Abbie Clarke, the senior crown prosecutor for the North West, said: “Breheny’s threats have caused fear and distress to the staff at the MP’s office.

“Members of Parliament and the emergency services play vital roles in our communities and criminality cannot be allowed to impede or affect that in any way. The Crown Prosecution Service works with the police to protect MPs and our emergency services, so they can continue to do their important work.”