A 50-year-old woman has been sentenced by a court following an anthrax scare at a Kent nursery school earlier this year.

June Pratt, of St Paul’s Road, Cliftonville, near Margate, was charged with sending a letter, communication or article containing a threatening message under the Malicious Communications Act.

She pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing on July 10. On Tuesday, she received a four-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, a 12-month supervision order, 200-hours of community service and she was ordered to pay £60 costs.

Margate magistrates court heard the three-hour incident happened at the Elms Nursery in Richmond Road, Ramsgate, on March 6. Sandra Berwick, school nursery owner and manager and Pratt’s sister, opened the hand delivered letter just after 9am.

White powder fell out and a hand written note saying “Anthrax. Start taking antibiotics.”

Police were called and specialist officers wearing protective clothing visited the scene with equipment to test the content of a substance.

Fire and ambulance crews were also involved. A contingency plan for a serious incident potentially harmful to public health was initiated by all three emergency services.

The 33 children, all under the age of five, were segregated and their parents were told they could not collect them.

The nine staff members were put into solitary confinement and Mrs Berwick was quarantined, together with the nursery deputy, who had picked the envelope up off the mat. The road was cordoned off.

The powder was found to be cornstarch and the incident was confirmed to be a hoax.

Pratt was traced through her DNA on the second-class stamp on the envelope and hand writing on another letter sent on the same day to OFSTED, complaining about the manager of the nursery. She was charged with the offence on June 29.

Mrs Berwick said: “Although it was an exceedingly frightening experience for the staff and parents, the children were unaware of the commotion as the staff insured that the morning routine of play and learning remained as normal as possible for them."

“The incident was dealt with effectively and professionally by the police, other emergency agencies and the nursery staff.

"I am extremely proud of the manner in which the nursery staff handled the incident. Policies and procedures for opening suspicious packages have now been put into place and a CCTV camera records every person that comes to the nursery door.

“I am disappointed and saddened that a family member could involve innocent people in a family affair.

"I would like to thank everyone for their support and sympathy and despite the turmoil of the event it is pleasing to note that the nursery has never been more popular with parents and children in the area and our good rating from OFSTED still remains.”

Det Sgt Tristan Kluibenschadl said: “This offence was one that was carried out due to sheer jealousy and rage at her sister’s success.

"It was an evil crime that was carried out without a thought for the welfare of the many innocent children or the staff at the nursery.

"It was also an offence that wasted thousands of pounds of public money by engaging the time and the resources of all three of the emergency services that were involved.

"It is time to send a clear message that all hoax crimes such as this one, will be investigated thoroughly and the perpetrators brought to justice.”

Senior Crown Prosecutor, Simon Ringrose said: “This was a very serious offence due to the distress caused at the nursery and the wasted time of the emergency services. The police had to treat the letter as a genuine threat until tests at the scene proved otherwise.

"Although Mrs Pratt expressed remorse the letter was sent with the intention of causing anxiety and distress.

"The CPS takes matters like this very seriously and we are very happy that Mrs Pratt has been brought to justice and sentenced by the court.”