A FORMER college worker accused of threatening to blow up the building and harassing the principal has been remanded in custody.

Kieran Miles, from Malmesbury, is said to have sent menacing messages to New College, Swindon, and also made threats on Facebook to its head, Graham Taylor.

The 32-year-old is due to face trial by magistrates on Monday February 29 after pleading not guilty to putting a person in fear of violence through harassment.

His case appeared before Swindon Crown Court yesterday, where he appealed against the justices' decision to not grant him bail.

But after hearing an application from his solicitor, the judge, Recorder Richard Smith QC, refused the request and remanded him in custody.

Miles, who was not present for the hearing, was initially a student and then worked at the college between 2002 and 2005, when he resigned.

He is said to have had no contact with the Queens Drive establishment until last autumn when he sent them a Facebook message.

It is alleged that he then sent another message on January 21 reading 'If I was you New College I would keep your building clear of people at night time'.

In the week leading up to that communication, it is said that Miles put a number of other postings on his own Facebook page, many threatening Mr Taylor.

He also said he would blow up the building, damage it by breaking windows and hurt people present on the campus, it is alleged.

Other postings are alleged to say he would attend the college in full body armour and a real firearm would be needed to stop him.

Emma Thacker, for Miles, said her client had lost his job as a result of being remanded in custody.

She said he had lived with his stepfather and mother until she died nine months ago but still has stable accommodation.

At an earlier hearing, the defendant pleaded not guilty to putting a person in fear of violence through harassment between late October 2014 and January 22, this year.

The maximum sentence for the offence, on conviction, is five years.

Miles, of Giles Close, Lea, Malmesbury, was remanded in custody to Monday February 29 when he is to face trial.

Armed police descended on the education establishment last month as a precaution but no arrests were made there and nothing untoward was found.