A bomb hoax caller triggered a massive police reaction after telling a 999 operator he planted explosives under a bench and wanted to "get rid of immigrants".

Raging Dean Sarjeant warned "I ain't f***ing about" as he detailed the type of device that he claimed to have planted in Snargate Street, Dover, on August 15 this year.

The 52-year-old, who said he was a former Royal Navy officer, also threatened to explode the pipe bomb via remote control and then kill himself, complaining "nobody is listening" and ranting he had done TV interviews with politician Nigel Farage.

But there were also times during his call in which he repeatedly apologised and expressed his gratitude to the operator, who in turn tried to placate him in less calm moments.

Canterbury Crown Court heard however that having given his full name and spelt it out, he was traced to his home and found still holding the phone on which he had made the alarming call.

He then took officers to the area of the alleged bomb, which was close to the main road leading to the port, only to become obstructive and pretend not to be able to speak English.

Fortunately, there was no device, no evacuation and no disruption caused to the ferry services. But this was only realised after six hours of police manpower had been deployed.

Sarjeant, then of London Road, Dover, but now of no fixed address, was arrested and later admitted an offence of communicating false information to police with the intention of adducing a false belief of a bomb being placed in Dover.

But the court heard at his sentencing hearing on Wednesday (December 18) that he claimed he had been having hallucinations at the time and did not realise he had actually phoned the emergency services.

It was just after 11am that he made his spurious call. In a recording played in court he could initially be heard calmly saying he had "phoned a second a go but the phone went dead".

But he then erupted, telling the handler: "I ain't f***ing about. I'm an officer of the Royal Navy and I can't handle the immigrants any more.

"I have done BBC interviews, I have done ITV interviews and nobody is listening to me. I have planted a bomb and the bomb is on Snargate Street.

"Trust me, I ain't f***ing about."

Having apologised for his swearing, Sarjeant then explained it was a remote control incendiary and how he had learnt about explosives while in Iraq, before reiterating the bomb's location and that he was genuine.

"I'm not f***ing about. I have planted a bomb in Snargate Street to get rid of the immigrants," he added.

He then repeatedly apologised, explaining he was struggling with his mental health and flashbacks from his time serving in the Navy.

Sarjeant continued: "I'm sorry. I'm probably going to kill myself in a minute. I'm sorry. I've planted an explosive. I just need you to know about it, that's all.

"I stood for Queen and country, I stood for it."

It was at this point that the operator, in her efforts to keep him calm, thanked him for his service and urged him not to harm himself.

Having then been asked where in Snargate Street the device was, Sarjeant replied: "Can I talk to you please? When I came back from the Navy and from Iran and all of that, my head was not good.

"I have placed it just underneath a bench in Snargate Street but listen to me now. I'm an officer of the Royal Navy. Listen to me now. It's a remote control incendiary device.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you. I don't want to hurt any bad people but I can't handle all the immigrants.

"I did all the ITV interviews, with BBC, Nigel Farage, but my head is crazy. I planted that and I'm about to make it explode. I just needed you to know."

Prosecutor Nate Lara told the court that police went to Sarjeant's home. He then took them to where he said he had planted the bomb but became obstructive, saying he did not understand English.

"Six hours of police time was wasted, with multiple officers and specialist dog units deployed to search the area but no device was found," said Mr Lara.

"The location was adjacent to the main road into the Port of Dover and there was potential for major disruption."

Of the hoax call itself, the prosecutor added: "He was adamant in his threats, they were prolonged and he relays technical aspects of this 'bomb' on three occasions, adding to the legitimacy of the call."

Nadia Semlali, defending, said Sarjeant was very remorseful, and had been taking medication and receiving counselling for his PTSD and anxiety since his arrest and remand in custody.

She told the court that as well as suffering from poor mental health, he also had severe arthritis down the left side of his body as well as pins and plates in his knee after being knocked down by a car about 20 years ago.

Ms Semlali made no mention of any Royal Navy career but she said the offence had been committed when Sarjeant was not undergoing any treatment for his PTSD, resulting in his condition deteriorating.

Describing his behaviour on the day as "irrational", she explained: "The defendant tells me he believed that what was happening wasn't real.

"He didn't believe he was genuinely making a 999 call or saying the things he was. He says he was hallucinating at the time."

Passing sentence, Judge Edmund Fowler told Sarjeant, who appeared in court via prison video link and could be seen using a crutch, that his 999 call was "a mixture of threats and a cry for help" from someone who had been drinking while experiencing a mental health crisis.

But he added: "It was a deliberate attempt to put into the minds of police that an attack was imminent.

"False claims of bombs being planted cause huge disruption. While they are fully investigated, time is wasted and fear is stoked."

The judge also said that Sarjeant's previous conviction in 2021 of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence was an aggravating feature.

However, he added he was "just about" able to conclude that a 12-month jail term suspended for two years was the appropriate punishment.

Explaining his decision, Judge Fowler said: "I take the view there is a greater prospect of rehabilitation if you were made subject to a suspended sentence order rather than passing a sentence of imprisonment which would lead to your release in the not so distant future and without the support I deem necessary for your rehabilitation."

He also ordered Sarjeant to undertake six months of alcohol treatment and 20 rehabilitation activity requirements.