The jury in the trial of a Darlington man accused of starting a bomb hoax incident has been discharged after they failed to reach a verdict.

Jake Freeman was caught on CCTV placing a metallic cylinder on the gates of the town Territorial Army centre before walking away from the area.

The 24-year-old maintained that he placed the e-cigarette battery at the secure gates as he couldn’t find a rubbish bin to dispose of the object.

Teesside Crown Court heard how a specialist army unit was deployed to carry out a controlled explosion before determining that the battery was not dangerous.

During his trial, the defendant said he couldn’t find a bin to dispose of the battery and thought it wouldn’t cause any problem if he left it at the security gates of the TA centre, on Neasham Road, Darlington.

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Jurors heard how Freeman voluntarily attended Darlington police station to tell officers it was him that they were looking for after Durham Constabulary posted an appeal for information on social media.

While he was in the police station, Freeman said: "I put a bomb at the army. Bang. Remember, remember the fifth of November when Guy Fawkes blew up Parliament."

Freeman, of Walworth Crescent, Darlington, denied placing an article with intent to cause a bomb hoax at around 3.50pm on October 24 last year.

Judge Richard Bennett discharged the jury after they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict.