Serial Southampton bomb hoaxer jailed (From Daily Echo)

Serial Southampton bomb hoaxer jailed 'as deterrent'

1:10pm Monday 25th February 2013 in News

A BOMB hoaxer has been jailed after making his fourth call in a year.

Johnathan Seifert rang police to say there was a bomb in a flat in Chandos House, Southampton – the third time he had used that location.

Berenice Mulvanny, prosecuting at Winchester Crown Court, said CCTV captured him making the call from a telephone kiosk in The Avenue.

Seifert, 23, of Clover Nook, Redbridge, admitted making a hoax bomb call at a time when he was on three suspended sentences for similar offences.

Nichola Attwood, defending, said: “No ambulance or fire brigades were called to the scene. The police did not take it seriously and there was no fear caused to the public. He was under the influence of alcohol.”

Jailing him for 96 weeks, Judge Gary Burrell QC said: “The public are entitled to be protected and there must be a deterrent element in the sentence.

“I have to balance your personal problems including your mental health difficulties with the need to protect the public and emergency services.

“Despite your difficulties, this is a sentence that requires immediate custody.”