A MAN who hid a fake bomb inside a child’s rucksack before leaving it in a churchyard caused massive disruption when a controlled explosion had to be carried out.

Dean Blewitt wrapped a shoebox with brown paper before writing the word ‘bomb’ on it and leaving the rucksack in St Andrew’s Church in Haughton, Darlington.

The 40-year-old was traced to the bomb hoax by traces of his DNA after a controlled explosion was carried out as a precaution after wiring and a clock was spotted inside the rucksack.

The woman who found it took it home believing that it had be lost by a child but when she found out it wasn’t lost, she opened the bag to find the hoax bomb stuffed inside.

Jolyon Perks, prosecuting, said: “She attempted to open it, as she did so she was able to make out that within it was a package wrapped in brown paper and sealed with tape with the word ‘bomb’ written on it.

“In panic, understandably, she returned the bag to the churchyard and notified the police.”

Mr Perks added: “On examination as well as the word ‘bomb’ also written on the box were the words ‘Warning: This is not a drill’; ‘bang, bang’; and ‘pigs, boom’.”

The Northern Echo: Dean BlewittDean Blewitt

A 100-metre cordon was put in place and a specialist bomb disposal unit were called in to carry out a controlled explosion and a clock timer, wires and two LED lights were recovered. DNA found on the rucksack was used to identify Blewitt.

Mr Perks said a subsequent search of his home recovered a calendar with the word ‘hoax’ written on the day in question, similar brown paper, and artwork.

Blewitt, of Beadnell Close, Darlington, pleaded guilty to causing a bomb hoax on September 17 last year.

Ismael Uddin, in mitigation, said his client had suffered with mental health issues and urged the judge not to jail Blewitt to enable him to get the required treatment.

He said: “It is a difficult task this morning, particularly the route that we would have expected my client to go down is not available to him, particularly the availability of mental health services to offer my client, which would have helped him in the long-term.”

Recorder Allison Hunter QC sentenced Blewitt to two years in prison for the distress he caused.

She said: “This is a particularly serious offence, I have no doubt the woman was absolutely terrified, and you clearly created a huge amount of concern and restrictions that needed to be put in place round the area where you had placed your hoax device.”

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