A pensioner with a grudge has admitted sparking a massive bomb alert in Liverpool city centre .
David Norris was accused of ‘bomb hoax – placing an article with intent’ after Tithebarn Street and surrounding roads were placed on lockdown on January 8 .
Today he appeared by video link at Liverpool crown court which heard he had pleaded guilty to the charge.
The court was told the 74-year-old got involved in a row with staff at boat insurers Groves, John and Westrup (GJW) and claimed to have a ‘suspect package.’
No one was injured, and the package was subsequently found to pose no danger to the public.
Norris, who lives in France, court papers have said, today appeared for a committal for sentence at Liverpool Crown Court.
It emerged that the pensioner had already pleaded guilty to the bomb hoax offence at the magistrates court.
When asked if he had admitted the offence of causing a bomb hoax, he replied: “That is correct.”
The Recorder of Liverpool, Clement Goldstone, criticised the fact that Norris appeared via a video link from HMP Liverpool, and was not at the court in person.
He described the case, which saw large parts of Liverpool city centre sealed off amid fears a bomb could go off, of significant public interest.
Recorder Goldstone described Norris’ actions as ‘bizarre’ and the result of a two decade-long ‘burning grudge.’
He said: “This is as bizarre conduct as it is serious.
“It seems for the last 20 years or so the defendant has been nursing a burning grudge which has grown within him like some inoperable disease.
“One needs to know why on the face of it, a perfectly normal, decent and law abiding individual should have behaved in the way he did, effectively causing mayhem to the city.”
Armed Police and Bomb Squad at an incident on Tithebarn Street Liverpool City Centre
His Honour Goldstone says he needed to find out if Norris had any psychiatric issues which might have an effect on the sentence he might receive.
He added: “It speaks for itself this has been festering inside him for so long and manifested in this way.
“I’m very surprised the advocate in the court below (magistrates court) did not flag this up.”
Recorder Goldstone ordered a psychiatric report be prepared into Norris’ mental health, which will take around six weeks.
He told Norris, who wore a grey jumper and looked calm and composed on the video link: “David Norris, I am quite satisfied that, on the material before me, I do not have sufficient to determine the appropriate sentence in this case.
“Whether there is any psychiatric reason as to why you behaved as you did, I am going to find out.”
The case against Norris was adjourned until March and he was remanded in custody until then.
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Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/