Posted on the 12th February 2026 in PHTM News

16 MONTHS IN JAIL FOR RACIST THUG WHO STAGED TERRIFYING MOCK BOMB COUNTDOWN IN LEEDS

A racist attacker who sparked panic by claiming he had planted a bomb and counting down to a "blast" has been sentenced to 16 months in prison.

Aaran Barden, 33, of no fixed abode, carried out a series of vile attacks in Middleton last August, beginning with a taxi driver taking him to Middleton on August 12 last year, telling him: "You p*** b*****, one of you took my money and drove off yesterday." 

On Wednesday, 12 February Leeds Crown Court heard that Barden then began to talk about a "bomb" and said he had one in his bag. He then told the taxi driver: "I'm going to blow you up."

Prosecutor Zanisha Herbert told the court: "The driver told him he was British and Barden said: 'You are not from here.'

He then turned his attention to members of the public on the street, shouting out of the car window to a group of Asian women, 'F*** off you p*** b*******.;

Barden’s rampage then moved to the street, where he targeted a woman, her seven-year-old daughter, and her sister-in-law.

After shouting, "Go back to your f****** country," he followed the terrified family into a shop.

Witnesses described how he claimed to have a bomb and sprayed an inhaler into the premises, forcing staff to hide the family at the back of the store for their safety.

In a final act of intimidation, Barden followed one of the women to her car, kicking the doors and crouching down to begin a mock countdown.

The prosecutor told Leeds Crown Court: "He crouched down and said: 'In 10 seconds, it's going to bomb' and began to count down."

The victim, trapped in the passenger seat, was left in genuine fear for her life.

The police were called and officers checked the shop's CCTV and recognised this defendant and he was arrested.

Barden, who has a history of racially aggravated harassment, pleaded guilty to communicating false information and three counts of racially aggravated disorderly behaviour.

His defence argued that Barden was suffering from hallucinations at the time because he had not taken his prescribed medication, noting that since being in custody, "his mind has been calmed by that medication."

Despite claims of remorse, Mr. Recorder Baird ruled that the severity of the threats and the "vile" nature of the racism warranted a 16-month jail term.


Read another story