A BOMB threat hoaxer who told a 999 emergency call handler that he'd planted an explosive device under Greenock police station has been jailed.

Ryan Irvine was drunk when he sparked a full-scale lockdown of the building, but he was quickly arrested because he'd given his name and address.

Greenock Sheriff Court heard how Irvine, 32, told police that he needed to speak to MI5 officers and claimed that he was being 'manipulated'.

However, a psychiatrist who assessed him afterwards concluded that he was perfectly aware that what he had done was wrong.

Defence lawyer Edel McGinty conceded: "He was criminally responsible at the time, but there appears to be some underlying mood disorders."

Miss McGinty added: "Who is to say that that it wasn't a decline in his mental health that caused him to drink?"

However, that notion was dismissed by Sheriff Thomas Ward who concluded that the only excuse offered by Irvine was that he'd been drinking.

Prosecutor Hazel Emmerson told the court: "The accused's speech was slurred and he gave his full name and address.

"He stated that a bomb was under Greenock police office and would detonate in five minutes, adding: 'It was me who put it there'.

"A thorough search was carried out which had a negative result."

Fiscal depute Mrs Emmerson added: "The accused allowed police access to his flat and he stated, 'I need to speak to MI5, do you have anyone?'

"He said, 'I'm being manipulated into committing crime'."

Irvine, of Belville Street, committed the offence shortly after 9pm on May 2.

He also pleaded guilty to hurling items including crockery, a bottle and an ironing board out of the window on his flat last September, telling police at the time: "Aye, I did it but I cannae remember doing it. I'm not clearing it up and I don't care if anyone got hurt'."

Solicitor Miss McGinty said: "With the exception of one matter eight years ago he has not troubled the court.

"He was in full-time employment with the civil service and lived independently for a number of years.

"There is reference to a decline in his mental health."

Miss McGinty added: "He had been holding down a full-time job, a good job and he has come off the rails spectacularly."

Sheriff Ward admonished Irvine for throwing items from his window but sentenced him to 108 days behind bars for the fake bomb threat.

The sheriff told him: "These days that is a serious matter and the only excuse I can see is that you were intoxicated at the time.

"According to the psychiatrist who examined you, you knew the wrongfulness of your conduct.

"I consider that there is no other appropriate way of dealing with you other than by a period of imprisonment."

Irvine gave a thumbs-up signal as he was being led away.