Criminal with 160 charges jailed over hoax bomb call

Criminal with 160 charges jailed over hoax bomb call

11 February 2015

A FORMER Downpatrick man with over 160 criminal convictions has been jailed for making a hoax bomb call.

Thirty two year-old Jackie Johnston was jailed for 16 months at Downpatrick Crown Court on Friday for making a drunken hoax call which led to a security operation in Ballynahinch in 2013.

Johnston, who now lives at Berkley Square, in Bangor, must also serve 16 months on licence after his release.

Judge Piers Grant told Johnston it is a matter for him if he learns from his time in jail and gets his “life back in order.”

The call made by Johnston claimed a pipe bomb had been left in the Riverside area of Ballynahinch but had not exploded. Police conducted a series of searches of the area over the following two days before concluding it was a hoax.

Johnston made the hoax call several hours after appearing at Downpatrick Courthouse on November 25 for a different case. The case had been adjourned which frustrated and angered Johnston.

A prosecution barrister told the court that the call claimed a pipe bomb had been left in Riverside Meadow, prompting police to conduct several searches of waste ground. No local residents were evacuated from their homes.

Police also searched the Riverside Meadow area in the village of Crumlin in case the caller had got the wrong town.

Later on one of the police officers who listened to the call recognised Johnston as being the caller and he was arrested.

Judge Grant told Johnston that one of the aggravating factors of the case was the fact that he made the call while on bail for other offences. Another factor which influenced the judge was the number of previous convictions.

“Since 1998 you have amassed 162 previous offences. Pretty much every offence that you could commit has been committed by you,” said the judge

“These offences were also committed when you were under several suspended sentences imposed for previous offences,” he added.

“The Probation Service report makes it clear you have had a troubled background but that is no excuse. Social Services have very real concerns about your participation in contact with your children.

“You have demonstrated a total lack of respect towards yourself, towards society and towards your children,” continued the judge. “You appear to be a complete mess, so irresponsible and so stupid.”

Judge Grant noted that a pre sentence report said there was a “high likelihood” of Johnston reoffending.