A 61-year-old man has admitted making a bomb hoax that led to flats being evacuated.

Tony Gannon yesterday pleaded guilty to communicating information with the intention of inducing the false belief that there was an object liable to explode or ignite at a flat in Newgate House in Sweyn Road, Cliftonville, on July 19.

It was reported at the time that police and Kent Fire and Rescue Service attended the property at about 9am, a cordon was set up, and residents from 16 homes were evacuated for six hours.

Gannon, then of Sweyn Road but now living at an address in King Street, Cliftonville, was arrested that same day at the scene.

He initially denied the charge at a hearing in August and was due to stand trial in March next year. But having now accepted responsibility at Canterbury Crown Court, he faces sentence on January 12.

Adjourning for a probation report, Recorder Michael Turner told Gannon he wanted to know more about his PTSD and "longer term alcohol problems" but warned that jail was still a possibility.

"You have an opportunity now, a window if you like, to get your life back onto some sort of track, but you are going to need to take advantage of the support and assistance offered to you from the rehabilitation elements of sentencing, because sentencing is not and should not just be about punishment," said the judge.

"But just because I have ordered a pre-sentence report, don't assume ultimately that custody will not be an option.

“It could well be if all else fails and its likelihood increases if you don't cooperate with probation in the preparation of the report, or the preparation of any supplementary psychiatric report I have suggested be obtained so we can look at treatment options for your PTSD, one of the contributory factors."

Releasing Gannon on conditional bail, Recorder Turner also warned him to "steer clear" of alcohol.