Anthrax letter hoaxer cleared of assault

A man who left a hoax anthrax letter on a colleague's desk has been cleared of assault.

The judge at Wolverhampton Crown Court ordered a not guilty verdict on Stewart Von Devey after hearing legal submissions.

The prosecution had claimed the alleged victim had suffered psychological harm on opening the letter, which contained a harmless white powder.

The court heard Mr Von Devey, 40, lost his job at Lucas Aerospace in Wolverhampton following the incident last October.

Colleague 'frightened'

While giving his ruling, Recorder Paul Coates said the hoax had been carried out against a background of terrorism fears in the wake of 11 September.

"The defendant decided to place an envelope containing some white powder on the desk of a colleague.

"The envelope was opened and some of the white powder was spilt.

"The colleague was upset and frightened."

He accepted submissions by defence counsel Andrew Baker that Mr Von Devey's actions had not caused an immediate fear of unlawful violence and did not therefore amount to assault.

Mr Von Devey told police when he was arrested the letter had been simply a practical joke.

The court heard he has yet to find another job since being dismissed from Lucas, where he had worked for 18 years.