A man from Somerset, along with two others, has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiring to make fraudulent “swatting” calls targeting 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, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today, where they denied multiple counts including five charges of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and one count of conspiracy to bomb hoax.
The alleged offences occurred between October 2022 and June 2023, with additional accusations against White and Ash covering the period from July 2023 to October 2024. These charges stem from false reports made to police forces in England, the United States, and Canada. Some false reports targeted individual online influencers in the US, while others concerned specific locations and institutions.
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“Swatting” involves making hoax emergency calls that prompt the deployment of armed police units, often placing innocent individuals and communities in danger.
White participated in the hearing remotely, while Ash and Ellison attended in person. The three men were granted conditional bail and are scheduled to stand trial on June 1.