A Somerset man, along with two others, has today pleaded not guilty to charges related to an international conspiracy involving false emergency calls, commonly known as “swatting,” in the UK, United States, and Canada.
Liam White, 23, from Weston-super-Mare, Dylan Ash, 19, from Warrington, Cheshire, and Kieron Ellison, 19, from St Helens, Merseyside, entered their not guilty pleas at Liverpool Crown Court to multiple offences. These include five counts of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and one count of conspiracy to bomb hoax, with alleged incidents spanning from October 2022 to June 2023.
Additionally, White and Ash face further charges involving conspiracy to pervert the course of justice between July 2023 and October 2024. The accused are alleged to have made false reports to police forces in England, the US, and Canada, targeting certain online influencers as well as specific locations and institutions.
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“Swatting” refers to the dangerous practice of making fraudulent emergency calls that prompt armed police or Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams to respond. Such hoax calls pose serious risks to public safety and the targeted individuals.
At the hearing, White participated remotely, while Ellison and Ash appeared together in court. All three defendants were granted conditional bail and are scheduled to stand trial on June 1, 2024.