Southern Water worker faces sack for fake bomb post (From The Argus)

Littlehampton man faces sack for fake bomb post

4:20pm Tuesday 12th March 2013 in News By Ben James

A Southern Water employee is facing the sack after asking friends to plant a fake bomb at his office so he could go home early.

Employee Matt Jones, 21, from Littlehampton, posted a request on Facebook asking for someone to leave a “mysterious looking package” at the company’s headquarters in Durrington last week.

The post, on Tuesday, March 5, then asked someone to call the police to say they had planted a bomb.

According to the message on the social networking site, Mr Jones was eager to go home early from work so he could make the most of the particularly sunny afternoon.

A further post read: “Depressed is not the word, I think I’d rather be a bum this summer than work in an office again!! [sic]”

Bosses at the firm were later alerted to his comments on the social networking site.

It’s believed he was sent home early and has been suspended for a week on full pay while management consider his future.

Company investigation

The full post on Facebook read: “Ok this is a serious request: If someone wants to earn a bullseye come to southern water and place a ‘mysterious looking package’ in the building and call the police telling them you have placed a bomb...

"Then I can enjoy the sun and get messssyyy!! (£50 bonus if we get sent home in the next half hour) [sic]”

A Southern Water spokesman confirmed the incident, saying: “A member of staff has been suspended on full pay, pending an investigation into a comment on a social networking site which was deemed to be gross misconduct.”

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said the force received a phone call on March 6 from a representative of Southern Water regarding the comment made on Facebook.

After receiving advice, the Southern Water representative decided they would deal with the situation as an internal matter and police intervention wasn’t needed.

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