A RAILWAY worker who made a series of bomb hoax calls in an attempt to get time off work has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Stewart Monk caused disruption to commuters with 11 calls to the customer services centre at South Eastern Trains, warning of explosive devices at Ashford International and Charing Cross stations.

The 28-year-old trolley steward was seven years ago convicted of leaving fake bombs in a shopping centre, hotel and cinema.

Maidstone Crown Court heard how Monk was working on the London to Kent line for Railway Gourmet when he made the first call from a phone box shortly before his shift started in February.

Bridget Todd, prosecuting, said Monk made another call from a phone box and the other nine from his mobile phone.

In one he warned: "There is a bomb at Ashford International, don’t let the police know. I will blow it."

Another threatened: "There is an hour to go before the bomb at Charing Cross goes off."

Miss Todd said: "Each case had to be dealt with as if it was bona fide. It caused inconvenience to staff, passengers and emergency services."

Each time the station had to be searched.

John Honey, defending, said he was "bemused" why Monk used a phone which would lead to him being detected.

"His motive appears to have been to get time off work at a time when he was tired because of the arrival of a baby," he said.

Monk, of Ackerley Court, Ashford, admitted communicating false information between February 20 and March 2 this year.