Bomb terror at job centre
28-YEAR-OLD IN GUILTY PLEA OVER JOB CENTRE INCIDENT
ARMED and claiming he had a bomb strapped to his chest, Maxwell Brennan brought terror to a Tyneside job centre.
Streets were sealed off and armed police swarmed the area after reports of a man with weapons and explosives in Byker, Newcastle.
Bomb disposal units were dispatched and job centre staff were held hostage during the terrifying incident. Now Brennan, who was armed with a machete, knife and hammer, has confessed he was responsible and is facing a prison sentence.
The 28-year-old, of Shipley Walk, Byker, pleaded guilty to “communicating false information with intent, information he knew or believed to be false with the intention of inducing a false belief a bomb or other such thing having the ability to explode was present in Byker job centre”.
He also admitted false imprisonment, threatening a man with an offensive weapon and having the machete, knife and hammer at the job centre.
Full details of what happened were not revealed as sentence was adjourned until next month.
Brennan, who appeared in court on a video link from prison, was further remanded in custody.
Judge Paul Sloan QC, at Newcastle Crown Court, told him: “You should understand, the fact I’m adjourning sentencing and directing the preparation of pre-sentence reports is not an indication of the sentence that will be imposed. I will decide on sentence once I’ve read all the relevant reports in your case. “Pending sentence, you will be remanded in custody.” Armed police swooped on Clifford Street, in Byker, Newcastle, shortly after 8am on June 9 after reports a man had entered the job centre armed with a knife and what turned out to be a fake bomb strapped to his chest. The street was sealed off, while Byker Metro Station and Raby Street were also shut as officers began negotiating with the man. Jobcentre staff were held hostage but, by 8.30am, everybody inside had been released. Shields Road was reopened at around 11.45am, although officers remained in the area to search through buildings. Byker Metro Station opened to passengers shortly after noon. No one was injured.
I will decide on sentence once I’ve read all the relevant reports in your case
Judge Paul Sloan QC