A Douglas man who threatened to raze a building to the ground has been put on probation for 12 months.

Thomas Paul Groom, aged 49, of Fairfield Terrace, was also banned from entering licensed premises, and purchasing or being sold alcohol for 12 months.

We previously reported how, on January 12 at 8pm, Groom called ’999’ making threats to harm himself and ’take someone else out’.

Police went to his home but Groom refused to come out of his bedroom.

He stayed locked inside as police spoke to him for 10 minutes.

He was said to be slurring his words and not making sense.

When officers threatened to enter by force Groom got angry saying that he would hurt anyone who came in.

He was asked if he had anything in the room and, referring to the building, said: ’I will raze it to the ground.’

Police forced entry and arrested Groom but no explosives were found inside.

At first Groom denied calling police when interviewed and claimed it was his neighbour who called.

However, he then admitted making the call, saying he had felt low throughout the day.

Groom said he had drunk half a bottle of brandy and some beer causing his memory of the incident to be ’sketchy’, but denied making any bomb threat.

Defence advocate Peter Taylor referred to a probation report which described Groom as a man suffering from ill health then turning to alcohol.

’He knows alcohol isn’t the solution to his problems,’ said the advocate. ’He knows he needs agency help.

’He remained out of trouble for three years.

’But from 2017 he clearly hasn’t managed to shake off the problems with alcohol. Clearly the root cause of his problems hasn’t been addressed.

’It was a threat made to prevent police entering his property. It was more akin to wasting police time.

But as soon as the words are uttered and there is no bomb there the offence is committed.

’He accepts he uttered the words but has no recollection of it.

’It was a cry for help. He has received help while on remand.’

Mr Taylor went on to say that his client had spent five weeks on remand, the equivalent of a 10-week custodial sentence.

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes also fined Groom £100 for breaching a conditional discharge imposed in July 2017.