Summary

  1. End of live coveragepublished at 18:20 BST

    We will be ending our live coverage of Jagger Strang's sentencing here, but you can read the story in full here.

    To recap what has happened today:

    • Jagger Strang, 18, has been sentenced to three years and 11 months in a young offender institution after threatening to bomb Stafford College when he was 17 years old
    • It came after he was convicted of seven offences, including threats to kill and to destroy or damage property
    • Birmingham Crown Court heard Strang has shared videos of himself lighting explosives at his home and told classmates of his obsession with serial killers
    • After being alerted by the college, police found chemicals, including thermite, at Strang's home along with a manifesto and evidence of instructional documents he had accessed
    • The court was told Strang was an "isolated young man" who would spend much of his time in his room playing video games and he was struggling to cope with real-life events, which included family illness
    • While the offences were not connected to terrorism, the CPS said Strang had a "disturbing fixation with violence", while police said he caused genuine fear among the college community
  2. Reports of this nature taken 'incredibly seriously'published at 18:04 BST

    Continuing his statement, Det Insp Rowlands said he would urge anyone with concerns about similar behaviour to report it to police, so action can be taken.

    "We take all reports of this nature incredibly seriously," he said.

  3. Strang caused genuine fear, police saypublished at 17:55 BST

    Reacting to Strang's sentencing, Det Insp Dave Rowlands, of Staffordshire Police, said it was an "extremely concerning case" involving a teenager with a "troubling fixation on violence".

    "The threats he made caused genuine fear among students and staff," he added.

    Rowlands said the vigilance of Stafford College and the swift response from police meant action was taken quickly, preventing any potential harm.

  4. Strang had 'disturbing fixation with violence', CPS sayspublished at 17:46 BST

    Frank Ferguson, of the CPS, said the case was not prosecuted on the basis of terrorist motivation, but Strang's actions "posed a very serious risk" to those around him.

    It required a "robust response", he added, and the sentence passed in court reflected the seriousness of the offences.

    "Jagger Strang demonstrated a disturbing fixation with violence, supported by the material recovered from his devices and the threats he made to others," he said.

  5. Actions 'not connected to terrorism'published at 17:35 BST

    The CPS said Strang told his classmates all he needed to build a bomb was a pressure cooker.

    At that point, he had been "testing making explosives", the CPS spokesperson added, and had ingredients capable of making up to 1.3kg of thermite and 320g of gunpowder.

    While Strang was described as having a "disturbed mindset", they said his actions were not motivated by or connected to terrorism.

  6. Strang wrote of desire to be like famous serial killerspublished at 17:24 BST

    As stated in court, a search of Strang's devices uncovered a manifesto, which was written by him in 2025, the CPS said.

    It read: "I am writing this before I do something big, something violent, maybe serial killing, maybe a rampage."

    The CPS said it went on to describe his desire to be like famous serial killers, including the Sandy Hook school shooter in the US, who killed 20 children and six adults in 2012.

  7. How Strang was caughtpublished at 17:14 BST

    The CPS said Strang was arrested after it was reported he had videos of himself torturing cats and told people he was carrying knives and that he planned to blow up the college.

    He showed a classmate photos of homemade weapons, the CPS added, and discussed an attack on the college, sharing videos of himself lighting explosive substances at his home.

    The classmate reported Strang to the college the next day, which decided to end early to safeguard pupils and contacted police.

    Officers arrested Strang later that day.

  8. Strang 'transformed' after moving to UKpublished at 17:02 BST

    The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has issued a statement following Jagger Strang's sentencing.

    It said Strang had transformed "from a nice kid to a teenager obsessed with violence" when he moved to the UK from South Africa with his parents.

  9. What is thermite?published at 16:48 BST

    Thermite - a dark red powder in a shallow transparent evidence trayImage source, Staffordshire Police

    When police searched Strang's home, a number of chemicals were discovered, including homemade thermite.

    Thermite is a pyrotechnic compsosition consisting of a metal powder fuel, usually aluminium, and a metal oxide, commonly iron oxide.

    It generates intense heat upon ignition and undergoes what scientists describe as a highly exothermic reduction-oxidation reaction.

    The reaction can sometimes reach temperatures of up to 3,000C.

  10. Strang committed seven offencespublished at 16:39 BST

    Jagger Strang was sentenced for committing seven offences.

    These were:

    • Possessing explosive substance (gunpowder)
    • Possessing explosive substance (thermite)
    • Two counts of possession of information likely to be useful for terrorist purposes
    • Threats to kill
    • Threats to destroy or damage property
    • Possession of a prohibited offensive weapon
  11. Threats 'understandably alarmed students'published at 16:29 BST

    Following Stang's pleas eaerlier this year, Det Insp Dave Rowlands thanked students and staff at the college for their vigilance.

    He said the situation had "understandably caused significant alarm to the students that Strang talked to and staff at the college".

    Rowlands said the "swift action" of police officers meant they were able to intervene quickly and prevent any potential harm.

    “We take all reports of this nature extremely seriously," he added.

    "The outcome of this case demonstrates our commitment to working closely with partner agencies to identify risks early and to take robust action to protect the public.”

  12. Blow pipe seizedpublished at 16:18 BST

    A black, homemade blowpipeImage source, Staffordshire Police

    As well as explosive substances, police discovered a homemade blow pipe at Strang's home, which accounted for the possession of a prohibited weapon in a private place charge that Strang admitted in May.

    However, in mitigation, the defence said that this was for "recreational use".

  13. Strang sentenced to almost four yearspublished at 16:09 BST
    Breaking

    Strang is handed three years and 11 months in a young offender institution.

  14. 'Chemicals not toys'published at 16:04 BST

    Wall said there was a "longer-term potential" for harm, given Strang's obsession with serial killers and explosives.

    He told the court the gunpowder and thermite were "not toys" and were "akin to dangerous weapons".

  15. Students concerned by Strang's messagespublished at 16:01 BST

    Wall said one of the group Strang confided in was concerned about what he was saying.

    He mentions the videos of him setting off explosives in his garden and sending messages about serial killers.

    This led to concerns being raised to the college, Wall added, and the site being evacuated.

  16. Identified classroompublished at 16:01 BST

    Judge Wall says Strang accessed two documents - one on how to make an explosive device and one on how to make gunpowder.

    His offending came to the attention of the authorities after he told classmates about blowing up the college with a pressure cooker - including details of which classroom he would destroy and how he would escape.

  17. Strang carried out internet researchpublished at 15:59 BST

    Wall said Strang carried out internet research in September, including documents "of use to terrorists".

    He said there were no plans for him to make the videos more available but it remained illegal for him to access them.

  18. 'Wanted to be like the serial killers'published at 15:58 BST

    "You wanted to be like the serial killers," the judge tells Strang.

    "At the same time, you developed an unhealthy interest in explosives. You acquired the chemicals necessary to make gunpowder and thermite, and you made them."

  19. Judge begins sentencing remarkspublished at 15:55 BST

    Mr Justice Wall has returned to the court and he has started to give his sentencing remarks.

    He outlines the offences he will be sentenced for, saying that he pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial, and will receive 10% credit.

    Wall said Strand is now 18 years old and the offences were committed when he was aged 17.

    He said he accepted Strang was an "isolated young man" and he never came to terms with the family's move to the UK from South Africa, about three years ago.

  20. Watch judge's sentencing remarks livepublished at 15:49 BST

    The judge, Mr Justice Wall, is set to return, when he will sentence Strang.

    Viewers will be able to watch his remarks live via the Watch Live button at the top of this page.