Jason Garrad made a drunken bomb threat against Fareham Magistrates Court (From Daily Echo)

Jason Garrad made a drunken bomb threat against Fareham Magistrates Court

6:10pm Monday 8th March 2010 in

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A HAMPSHIRE man who called in a hoax bomb threat was sentenced at the same court he drunkenly claimed was in danger.

A major alert was only averted because the 999 operator recognised the voice of 38- year-old Jason Garrad.

He was known for making nuisance calls and arrested within ten minutes, a court heard.

The following day he called the emergency number again to apologise for lying about a bomb being planted outside Fareham Magistrates Court The same venue was told how Garrad was an alcoholic and in a “fragile state of mind” when he got drunk and called the police, an act he claimed not to remember.

After the operator identified the voice of the unemployed man, of Robinson Court, Fareham, the police identified the phonebox used and followed his movements on CCTV before pouncing.

The call was made from a phonebox in West Street, near the courthouse, at 9.23pm on October 20 last year.

He said: “There is a bomb opposite the courts in Fareham. You’ve got 20 minutes.”

Defending solicitor Adrian Dodd said: “He has an alcohol problem and had gone on a bender. He treated the police as if it was a counselling service.”

Presiding magistrate Georgette Houlbrook said: “This was a very serious offence.

“The possible effect on police, emergency services and the public is such that only custody can address it.”

He was sentenced to four months, suspended for 12 months, during which time he will be under a supervision requirement. He had previous convictions for criminal damage and assault.