Man who threatened to kill Labour MP Lisa Nandy is jailed

A man who threatened to kill a member of parliament was sentenced to three years and three months in prison.

Ryan Breheny, 48, also said he was offered an AK-47 assault rifle and claimed he wanted to attack NHS staff, Bolton Crown Court heard.

The defendant, of Old Hall Street in Wigan, Greater Manchester, threatened to kill Lisa Nandy, MP for Wigan and now Labour Minister for Culture, Media and Sport.

He was jailed on Tuesday after pleading guilty to threatening to kill, sending threatening letters and assault.

The court heard that Breheny first called emergency services shortly after 6.15pm on June 3 this year and told the police operator he wanted to make a complaint about the NHS.

He went on to say that he had been “offered an AK-47 and that he would execute anyone in the hospital wearing a uniform.”

He continued to make threats, repeatedly using the word “execution,” referring to the specific weapons he planned to use.

During the phone call, Breheny referred to chemicals he could obtain and how easy it would be to build a bomb.

Less than an hour later, he sent two threatening emails to Lisa Nandy's constituency office, threatening to kill the MP.

The desperate office manager who opened the emails called the police.

But when one of the officers knocked on the door, he saw Breheny inside the house, cocking a crossbow. Then Breheny came to the door with the gun in his hand.

Breheny was arrested and police found other weapons, including air rifles, crossbow bolts, a machete, slingshots and a baton.

He admitted sending the emails and calling the emergency number, but denied that he intended to carry out his threats.

Abbie Clarke, senior prosecutor at the North West Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Breheny’s threats have caused fear and distress among staff at the Parliamentary Office.

“Members of Parliament and emergency services play a vital role in our communities and crime must not be allowed to hinder or compromise that function in any way.

“The Public Prosecutor’s Office is working with the police to protect MPs and our emergency services so they can continue to do their important work.”

Detective Constable James Cupitt, of Greater Manchester Police, said: “Breheny's threats were shocking and disturbing and have caused distress to those involved. We will not hesitate to intervene when people make such threats and will seek to secure the appropriate charges.”

“We work closely with elected officials to ensure they can do their jobs without fear of anyone who might want to harm them, and will always do our best to protect them and our communities.”