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Bomb hoaxer told 999 call handler he'd rigged Dover with explosives

A bomb hoaxer who threatened to detonate numerous explosives around a Kent town for a second time has avoided jail.

Janus Freimanis, of Dover, claimed he would hurt and kill “everyone he can” in calls to Kent Police’s control room.

Janus Freimanis, of Dover, claimed he would hurt and kill “everyone he can”
Janus Freimanis, of Dover, claimed he would hurt and kill “everyone he can”

The 38-year-old said bombs were planted in six locations around the town and, if police failed to attend within 10 minutes, they would detonate.

The forklift truck driver was ordered to remain sober for four months at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday, or potentially face prison.

Speaking of Freimanis' latest bomb scare in November last year, prosecutor Trevor Wright said: “He called the Kent Police force control room complaining about his neighbours smoking.

“About 30 minutes later he called the control room again, he was angry the police had not taken any action, saying he would take matters into his own hands.”

Under the influence of alcohol, Freimanis would go on to threaten the call-handler before claiming Dover was rigged with bombs.

“He got a bee in his bonnet about the fact that he got an email saying he would be contacted [about the neighbours] at another date,” the call-handler told the court in a statement.

“He went on to say things like ‘I will be sorry.’

“He said he planted bombs in six different locations.

“I believe he was drunk, he was going round and round in circles, he kept on bragging about himself saying ‘I’m very intelligent’, he started talking about quantum physics,” they added.

Officers soon arrested Freimanis at his home and he would plead guilty to the hoax at an early opportunity.

The court heard Freimanis was previously cautioned for an “almost identical” crime in March, 2021.

He told a 999 call-handler he wished to assault police officers, was a danger to the public and would “hurt everyone he can,” Mr Wright said.

“He said he had placed explosives and if the police didn’t didn’t turn up in 10 minutes we would kill people.

“(Freimanis) said he planted bombs in numerous places and said ‘you will not have much time,’” Mr Wright said.

Freimanis could be seen crouched forward in the dock with his head in his hands as the prosecution delivered its case.

But Kerry Waitt, mitigating, dubbed Freimanis an "industrious man" who, with the help of professionals, would benefit with an alcohol treatment programme.

He said: “He does not appear alcohol dependent but sometimes binges and these incidents occur.”

“Why do they occur?” asked the judge, recorder Edmund Burge QC.

“He says it’s a combination of drinking and frustration and can’t explain exactly what makes him do this,” Mr Waitt continued.

“While this was an anxiety to the police and a drain on resources it did not result in an evacuation, there was not a lockdown of the area.”

Mr Waitt recommended Freimanis to undertake an alcohol rehabilitation programme.

Recorder Burge QC told Freimanis: “You phoned up the police and threatened to detonate explosive devices you had placed in various locations, it appears, while you were very drunk and agitated by the behaviour of your neighbours smoking in the communal hallway you share with them at that address.

“When you do drink you don’t seem to be able to stop yourself until you drink yourself into oblivion.

“It seems to me you need some help in dealing with alcohol."

Freimanis, of Flying Horse Lane, was ordered to complete a 120-day alcohol abstinence treatment plan, 10 rehabilitation days, 80 hours of unpaid work and pay £300 costs.

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