British Army veteran walked into Halifax business centre claiming to be wearing a suicide vest

John Douglas, 35, later described the incident at the Leeds Beckett University-run premises at Piece Mill on Horton Street in January as 'a cry for help' and said he never had any intention of hurting anyone despite saying he was going to blow up the building and himself.

Bradford Crown Court heard on Monday that the incident began as the business centre, which had around 150 people inside, was closing on January 24 of this year.

Prosecutor Graham O’Sullivan said Douglas, of Brigg Street, Queensbury, was buzzed in by a member of staff, but when the defendant reached the lobby area he told staff: ”I need some help. I need to see someone. I’m not well. I want to kill myself. I’ve got a suicide vest on.”

Staff arranged for people to be evacuated, but the court heard that two women, one of whom was a mental health first aider, continued to talk to Douglas while they waited for the police to arrive.

He repeated his claims to be wearing a suicide vest and said he was being followed.

Douglas started drinking from a bottle and took some tablets, but one of the women brought him some biscuits and said she wanted to help him.

Mr O’Sullivan said the defendant was emotional and crying, but continued to say he was going to blow the building up.

When police officers arrived Douglas told them he would blow himself up if they came closer.

As Douglas reached inside his jacket he was grabbed by officers and handcuffed.

Mr O’Sullivan said no suicide vest or any weapon was found, but the officers had been concerned for their safety and the safety of members of the public.

In his interview Douglas said he had felt suicidal and paranoid and didn’t even remember claiming to have had a suicide vest on.

He said he was sorry for scaring anyone and stated that he needed psychiatric help.

Douglas, who has already been remanded in custody for nine months, pleaded guilty to a charge of communicating false information with intent and today Judge Tom Bayliss QC said he had to impose an immediate prison sentence.

The judge said Douglas was an Iraq War veteran who served in the British Army and had huge personal and mental health problems.

“The cool heads of the people whom you confronted prevented the situation escalating, but that’s no thanks to you,” he told Douglas over a video link to HMP Leeds.

He said there was a serious risk of public disorder as a result of what Douglas had done.

“I take the view there must be a prison sentence to mark the gravity of this offending and to deter you and others from making such claims,” said the judge.

A two-year jail term was reduced to 16 months because of credit for Douglas’ guilty plea and following his release from custody he will be under post sentence supervision for 12 months.