A MAN who claimed he was going to blow up a bus a week after the London public transport explosions narrowly escaped a prison sentence yesterday.

Ian McCready made what turned out to be an idle threat when he lost his temper in a telephone row with a police civilian officer. The incident was only eight days after the July 7 blasts on three tube trains and the number 30 bus, which killed 56 people in the capital.

McReady, 42, made the call to a female legal executive with Durham Police, angrily claiming that computer equipment previously seized by officers was returned damaged.

Sunderland magistrates heard that he became increasingly frustrated, feeling he was getting nowhere with his complaint, and told the executive, Jacqueline Martin: "No one helps each other anymore, it is no wonder people blow buses up."

He then added: "I'm going into Sunderland to blow up a bus."

Ms Martin, worried at what she had been told, passed details to officers, and McCready was arrested at his home, in the Pallion area of Sunderland.

At first, he said he did not know what police were talking about, but later admitted making the comments.

McCready, of previous good character, pleaded guilty by video link from prison, at a previous hearing, to threatening to destroy property.

The case was adjourned for sentence until yesterday, when his defence solicitor, Tim Bittlestone, said McCready was immediately sorry for what he had said, and had learned his lesson by his period in custody.

McCready, of Ferndene Crescent, Pallion, was ordered to carry out six months' community punishment work and pay unstipulated court costs.

Magistrates' chairman Alan Richardson told him he was lucky not to be going to prison.