A FANTASIST and serial conman who made hoax bomb threats to two hospitals was yesterday jailed for three years.

Lee Flaherty – who also claimed to be a transvestite dancer – sparked panic at Darlington Memorial Hospital and Scarborough Hospital.

Posing as a member of the Army’s bomb disposal squad, he rang to warn of explosive devices.

As a result, patients were evacuated and emergency cases diverted to other hospitals.

A similar call was made to the Blackwell Grange Hotel, Darlington.

It was fortunate that the hoax calls had not resulted in patient deaths, said John Gillett, prosecuting at Teesside Crown Court.

He said the 22-year-old also stole hundreds of pounds in Darlington while posing variously as a transvestite dancer, an undercover policeman and council inspector.

Just over a month ago, Flaherty, who has already served 20 months in prison for committing a string of burglaries and deceptions, was branded a potential “risk to children and young people” by Durham County Council.

In May, he was handed a five-year anti-social behaviour order after distributing leaflets and approaching schools in Newton Aycliffe and Shildon claiming to be a qualified youth worker – offering sports and counselling services.

“These are all the work of someone who can best be described as a fantasist,” said Mr Gillett.

The court heard yesterday that Flaherty made the hoax calls during the early hours of December 5.

He rang Darlington Memorial Hospital’s accident and emergency department, saying he was from Catterick Garrison’s bomb disposal squad and there was a bomb in the area.

The department was closed for three hours, with ambulances diverted to Bishop Auckland General Hospital.

“Fortunately, that didn’t lead to any grave consequences, but the potential was there had there been any lifethreatening situations,”

added Mr Gillett.

Ten minutes later, Flaherty called the Blackwell Grange Hotel but hung up when asked for his name, rank and serial number.

He then rang Scarborough Hospital, which closed its department for two hours, diverting ambulances to York and Hull.

Flaherty, formerly of Grange Road, Darlington, admitted three counts of making bomb hoaxes and two counts of burglary. The first burglary happened at the manager’s flat above TJ’s bar, in Skinnergate, Darlington, on October 11.

Mr Gillett said: “During the previous week, the defendant attended the bar offering his services as a drag artist.

“He returned with posters and leaflets and told the barmaid the manager had given him permission to drop them off at his flat upstairs.”

Flaherty stole £110 from a bedside drawer and a radio kit. Two days later, he texted the bar manager at 1.15am, claiming to be an undercover policeman.

On October 15, Flaherty went to the Chambers club, in Duke Street, Darlington, posing as a council inspector.

Using a false name and fake identification card, he was allowed inside and stole £950 from a workman’s wallet.

The court heard that Flaherty also admitted issuing a fake fine to a taxi driver while posing as a council inspector.

The driver handed over £90.

Dan Cordey, mitigating, said Flaherty had a “difficult childhood and adolescence”, and suffered from a personality disorder. “He appears to enjoy the attention these offences bring,” said Mr Cordey.

Judge George Moorhouse said psychiatric and psychological reports found Flaherty was not suffering from any mental disorder, but did have a personality disorder.

He told him: “The accident and emergency wards were closed for a number of hours.

If there had been any emergencies, ambulances would have been delayed.”