Bomb hoaxer's sentence suspended

A man who planted a hoax bomb at the block of flats where he was living has been given a suspended jail sentence.

About 50 homes had to be evacuated at Highleigh Flats in Grove Hill, Brighton, after Paul Triballi planted the hoax device on 28 February.

Triballi, 25, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to causing the hoax at an earlier hearing.

He was jailed at Lewes Crown Court for 39 weeks, suspended for 18 months, and a supervision order was also imposed.

The residents of the flats spent part of the night of the incident at Brighton police station.

They were allowed back home after a controlled explosion was carried out on the hoax device.