Job centre yob in fake suicide vest held staff hostage while screaming "this is not a hoax"

A job centre yob who held staff hostage while screaming "this is not a hoax" has been jailed for five years.

Maxwell Brennan, 28, entered the Byker job centre in Newcastle with a fake detonator in his hand before going on to put a knife to an elderly security guard's throat.

He carried out his terrifying tirade only weeks after the Manchester bombing, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

At a previous hearing he admitted false communication, false imprisonment and offences associated with having knives and hammers, and has now been jailed for five years and four months.

He made his fake vest out of aerosols, wood and metal, Mark Giuliani, prosecuting, said. Brennan had knives and hammers with him, as well as tape to restrain hostages.

The court was shown CCTV of the three-hour incident, which Brennan later told police was motivated because his GP was ignoring him.

Brennan,of Shipley Walk, Byker, approached the security guard and said: "This is not a hoax, I have a bomb."

He then pushed his way into the building, which was not yet open to the public, and told staff to gather in the waiting area.

He let the women go but made one stay back and tie up two male colleagues, despite them being in poor health.

Negotiators had asked him what he wanted and at one point he asked to see the Queen.

Much of Byker had been cordoned off, buses re-routed and the Metro system was partly shut down.

Staff were convinced the threat was real and victim statements revealed the trauma they have suffered since.

Tony Cornberg, defending, praised the armed officers for the restraint they showed in dealing with Brennan that day.

Judge Paul Sloan QC said: "It is testament to the professionalism of the officers."