A bomb hoaxer who said he had planted three explosive devices at a Bedminster pub has been jailed. The court also heard that while on remand at HMP Horfield, he was found holding what appeared to be a makeshift bomb to his chest, prompting a prison lockdown.
Michael Casey was intoxicated when he used the phone at his local store to contact police and say he had planted three pipe bombs at the Three Lions after he had received threats. While on remand he fashioned a device using items including a TV remote and kettle, and told prison staff that if it worked it would have a blast radius of 15 feet.
The first incident caused householders to be evacuated from their homes for several hours. The second necessitated a visit from an Army explosives expert, who confirmed the 'kettle bomb' was 'non-viable', Bristol Crown Court heard.
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Casey, 40, of Kingdom View in Bedminster, pleaded guilty to making a bomb hoax after incidents in October and November last year. Judge Martin Picton jailed him for 40 months.
The judge told Casey today (June 2): "A report about you says you are a high risk of causing serious harm to the public. For you, anti-social behaviour is a form of coping mechanism."
Jack Barry, prosecuting, told the court Casey rang police from his local Premier store in West Street and calmly stated he had planted three pipe bombs in the Three Lions pub. The call led to householders being evacuated and roads sealed off for some nine-and-a-half hours.
The court was told emergency services swooped on the scene, as well as search dogs, an explosives search team and drone operators. Some 60 police officers were deployed for several hours at an estimated cost of just over £10,000.
Casey told police he made the call but couldn't explain why. He said he had drank five litres of cider before making the call and had experienced a decline in his mental health.
In the second incident Casey was found in his cell at HMP Bristol hugging his makeshift 'kettle bomb'. A prison listener talked to him and persuaded him to cut cables with a plastic knife, the court heard.
In that incident the device was segregated and the prison was put into lockdown. An Army expert called in from Tewkesbury examined the device for 30 minutes and confirmed it was "non-viable".
Casey said he had been detoxing from alcohol and cocaine and had been stressed and anxious. He suggested prison officers had jumped to the wrong conclusion about the kettle.
The court heard Casey's previous convictions includes making pipe bombs in April 2004. A psychologist concluded Casey had a fascination for all things military such as weapons and bomb making - though Casey disputes that.
John Stoke, defending, said his client acknowledged the inevitability of jail. He told the court Casey had a history of mental health difficulties and traits of autism.
Mr Stokes said the first incident followed Casey's stress about the risk of losing his home. He had not targeted any group at the pub, and the second incident caused no direct harm to anyone.
Mr Stokes said: "He has no history of serious violence. His mental health history is more than evident."
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