Bomb hoax boyfriend sparked evacuation
AWEST Lancashire man sparked a major evacuation when he planted a fake bomb in his girlfriend’s parents’ home.
Gary Wells appeared at Liverpool Crown Court last Thursday, when he was jailed after pleading guilty to communicating false information about a bomb hoax.
The court heard that his girlfriend, Lianne Cluskey, was standing by him.
Army bomb disposal experts were called to the scene in Kirkdale, Liverpool, on January 21, 2014.
Police officers swiftly told terrified residents to leave their properties overnight.
Wells, 28, had anonymously reported a “suspicious package” after leaving it near Lianne Cluskey’s family home in Woodbine Street at around 2.30am.
Police officers cordoned off the area while the Royal Logistic Corps bomb disposal unit dealt with the device.
Charlotte Kenny, prosecuting, said it resembled a video cassette box with wires hanging from it and flashing red lights.
Residents were woken as officers closed Commercial Road, Stanley Road, Woodbine Street, Daisy Street, Lambeth Road and Harebell Street.
Arriva buses ferried locals to Everton Park Sports Centre and Kirkdale Community Centre.
Just under eight hours later, the package was found “not to be viable” by an Army captain and an investigation was started.
Wells was arrested and released on bail, only to assault Miss Cluskey at her home on April 11, 2015, pushing her onto a couch and putting his hand over her face.
He attacked her again on April 18 that year, when he threw toiletries at her and pushed her into a radiator, marking her arm.
When she went to the police, he denied assaulting her and suggested the injuries were the result of accidents.
But last Thursday, Wells, of Egerton, Skelmersdale, admitted communicating false information about a bomb hoax and two counts of common assault.
He has numerous convictions for dishonesty and was locked up for battery in 2006 and for common assault, burglary and theft in 2007.
Paul Lewis, defending, said his client had already spent a total of 201 days either in custody or on a qualifying home curfew.
He said that Wells targeted an individual and did not intend to cause widespread disruption, but the judge, Recorder Andrew Long, replied: “There is nothing more indiscriminate than a bomb hoax.”
Mr Lewis said Wells suggested someone in his imagination encouraged him to leave the device there.
However, he accepted there was not any medical evidence to support this claim, despite Wells’ long-standing history of alcohol abuse.
Recorder Long said Wells was responsible for a significant waste of public resources and disrupted a community.
He said: “You constructed and placed an elaborate hoax bomb that would certainly have terrified anybody other than an expert who was to approach it.”
The judge said Wells then attacked Miss Cluskey, who was in the court, adding: “She is still standing by you.”
Recorder Long jailed him for two years and six months, after which Wells turned to his victim and said: “Six more months, love you Lianne.”