THE bridegroom who made a fake bomb threat to St George's Hall after realising he had forgotten to book his wedding has been jailed.
Neil McArdle, of Medbourne Crescent, Kirkby, will have to put his nuptials on hold for a further 12 months while he is detained at Her Majesty's pleasure.
The story made headlines around the world last month after McCardle was charged with communicating false information about a bomb hoax, which he admitted.
Barrister Charles Lander, defending, told Liverpool Crown Court: "If it wasn't so serious the facts of this case have all the markings of a comedy."
Nerve
But Judge Norman Wright failed to see the funny side and said it was an "extremely serious" case, with custody the only appropriate sentence.
Neil McArdleMcCardle, 36, realised he had forgotten to make the wedding booking the day before he was due to marry at the Grade I listed hall in April.
He didn't have the nerve to tell the “love of his life”, Amy Williams, so on the morning of the big day he slipped out to a phone box and rang the Liverpool Register Office, which is based at the hall.
He told the receptionist: "This is not a hoax call. There's a bomb in St George's Hall and it will go off in 45 minutes."
The call, which sparked terror, the court heard, came 11 days after the Boston Marathon bombing. The hall was immediately evacuated and 999 crews called.
The bride and the rest of the suited and booted wedding party were left outside. Forty five minutes later, when the all clear was given, a member of staff went to help the wedding party with their "delayed" ceremony.
But he spotted a "heated conversation" with the bride's sister saying to the groom: "You probably done the bomb scare yourself!"
McArdle had also used his mobile to call the venue after his initial call - he later told police to call off the hoax.
His mobile phone was registered at his home address and he was arrested at 4pm that day.
Prosecutor Derek Jones told the court: "He did say several times how embarrassed and ashamed he was and how sorry he was."
Miss Williams has stood by her fiance.
