A MAN who sparked an emergency alert at a chemical complex faces jail after he was found guilty of a bomb hoax.

Michael Cooke rang the ICI Wilton plant on Teesside and told staff: "A bomb is going to go off now."

The 50-year-old defendant's call, which was answered by duty manager Andrew Henman, sparked a huge search of the complex and fire crews were also called out.

Cooke, of York Road, Hartlepool, was attempting to get through to the personnel department on June 22 last year, but became agitated when he was told it was closed for the day and he should call back the next day.

It was then that he made the bomb threat.

His barrister, Rajesh Pabary, had told the jury at Teesside Crown Court that Cooke would refer to bombs in jest in his conversation when attempting to get people to hurry up. He questioned whether Mr Henman had just panicked when he heard the word "bomb" being mentioned.

But the jury believed the Crown's version of events, which was that Cooke had made a threat with the intention of it being taken seriously.

Graeme Gaston, prosecuting, said the defendant had been drinking that day and was not a reliable witness, unlike Mr Henman who had a clear recollection of what was said and noted it down.

Mr Gaston also revealed that when Cooke was arrested and taken into custody by police, he claimed he knew people who could make explosives.

Judge David Bryant agreed to a defence request that reports should be prepared on Cooke before he was sentenced. He bailed the defendant with a condition that he should live and sleep at his home address.

Judge Bryant said: "You should understand that the fact I am granting you bail and asking for a pre-sentence report should not be taken as any indication of your likely sentence.

"All sentencing options including prison remain open in this case."

Cooke, who had denied a charge of communicating false information in relation to a bomb, is likely to be sentenced in the week commencing June 12.