A man who sent hoax packages to a range of public places has been convicted of a number of terrorism offences.

Gary Preston, 63, from Haverhill, admitted 21 charges relating to suspicious packages sent between September and October 2013.

He appeared in Woolwich Crown Court today, August 11, where he pleaded guilty to all offences.

Mr Preston sent packages containing a suspicious white powder to a range of schools, shopping centres and other businesses. Some of the packages included warning notes telling the reader to run or hold their breath.

The substance was later found to be talcum powder.

Investigators were unable to establish Mr Preston as the main suspect until he was arrested for a separate offence in July 2020. His DNA and fingerprints matched that found on the packages sent.

He claimed that he did not recall the incidents but was charged with 21 counts of sending a substance and note with the intention of inducing a belief that it is likely to be harmful or poisonous.

He will be sentenced on November 10 this year.