A MAN who sparked a bomb scare and threatened to kill police officers walked free from court after his father told a judge of his "nightmare" in prison.

Jon Webb was held behind bars on remand after the drama in Northallerton in September when part of the town was sealed off.

Webb's dad, Michael, a navy diver, told Teesside Crown Court that the 25-year-old, of Darlington, was scared of the police and believed they followed him around the streets.

The serviceman was called to give evidence and told Mrs Justice Simler being in prison had been a nightmare for his son, and said: "He doesn't want to go back there."

Webb was given a two-year jail sentence, suspended for two years, with 12 months of probation supervision after the judge said she was taking "an exceptional course".

Mrs Justice Simler told him he had committed "extremely serious" offences but said she was "particularly impressed" by the remorse he had shown since.

She said: "It has had a particularly sobering effect, and you have realised the consequences of those ill-judged words . . . you were entirely wrong."

Webb, of Kielder Drive, Darlington, was said to have had a gripe with police after he was arrested for being drunk and disorderly and sprayed with CS gas.

Rod Hunt, mitigating, told the court that Webb lost his temper when he felt his complaint was being ignored, and "wanted them to listen to him".