Springburn man jailed after claiming he built a 'homemade bomb'

A man who sparked a lockdown after claiming he had built a homemade bomb was jailed today for 30 months.

Christopher Scarr, 41, was snared with the device in a cupboard at the property in Glasgow's Springburn on April 17 2023.

Scarr had earlier emailed a doctor's surgery that he had built a device.

He stated: "They might force me into something I don't want to do."

Scarr also claimed to nurses that he learned how to make bombs from "being in the army."

Officers raided his property and found a device made of three black tubes with orange wire twisted on to a black box.

Around 60 residents were forced to flee their homes, a large police cordon was put in place and roads were closed.

The device was later found to be three pyrotechnics held together for outside use which would flash and bang when activated.

Scarr pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.

He also admitted making or knowingly have in his possession or control an explosive substance.

'This was a very serious offence'

Sheriff Andrew Cubie said: "This was, as you accept, a very serious offence and you are right to be shocked at the consequences.

"You threatened front line NHS workers and mentioned potential explosive devices.

"Police attended your property and saw what they reasonably thought was an explosive device.

"Suspicion was driven by what you threatened in terms of a homemade bomb of some sort.

"The complaint you had was about your housing situation and it is baffling that you involved those people in the threats you made.

"There was a failure to recognise the risk and the threat passed."

The sheriff imposed 12 months supervision upon Scarr following his release from prison.

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