A ST GEORGE man who was upset about the payment of his benefits caused a full-scale bomb alert when he threatened to blow up job centres across the city.
Qumar Ahmed, of Church Road, went to the job centre on Monks Park Avenue in Horfield at 10.15am on February 26 to complain about his benefits.
Bristol Magistrates’ Court heard how he was told to call a helpline and, when he was unable to get assistance, smashed the phone against the wall causing £80-worth of damage.
As he stormed out of the building he shouted: “I am going to bomb Lodge House” to frightened staff – referring to the Bristol East social security office.
This was caught on CCTV.
Later that day the 35-year-old called Lodge House from a public phone box on North View in Henleaze, threatening to bomb it and other job centres across the city.
In court, a recording of Ahmed’s phone call was played. In it, he said: “Listen to me, listen to me. There is a bomb in Lodge House and all the job centres in Bristol.”
Ahmed pleaded guilty to one charge of causing a bomb hoax and of causing criminal damage.
In police interview, Ahmed said he got “stressed and angry” while in the job centre, and slammed the phone down “a bit hard”.
He said he either told staff he was going to bomb the office, or drive a car into the building.
Prosecutor Rob Allen said: “He has bipolar, which causes euphoric highs and lows. He said he was very sorry for his behaviour and recognised that he was wrong.”
The court heard how police initiated a full-scale bomb alert and used police resources which could have been used elsewhere.
Defence barrister Mark Linehan told the court that Ahmed became unwell after a stint working in Pakistan with corpses after the earthquake in 2005.
Three years ago he was sectioned under the Mental Health Act at Southmead Hospital for four weeks. The court heard how he goes through stages of not taking his bipolar medication correctly.
Mr Linehan said: “I hope the court will give him credit for his remorse and regret, which seems to be genuine. Today in court he has his family with him. His partner, from whom he is separated – there are six children – and his sister and brother-in-law are here. His parents wanted to attend, but they are disabled. He cares for his mother and father.”
The court heard how Ahmed receives £150 per month disability living allowance.
Chairman of the bench Edward Strong said: “We’ve considered this at length. The offences are serious enough to make a community order. This will be for 12 months. Within that time you will have a 150-hour community order.
“You’ve got this bipolar condition. We’re a little bit concerned that if you don’t take your medication you will go on to commit another act like this one. You must take your medication.”
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