Man jailed after planting fake bomb outside shop ‘as a joke’

A man has been jailed after planting a fake bomb outside a convenience store as a prank. CCTV footage shared by Northumbria Police on Thursday (26 February) shows John Maughan, 50, of Lyneburn Cottages, Morpeth sticking the hoax device onto a bollard outside a shop on Birtley, Gateshead. A number of properties had to be evacuated as an Explosive Ordnance Dispoal team was called out to the scene on 17 November, 2025. CCTV footage was used to track down Maughan a few hours after he fled the scene. In a police interview following his arrest, the 50-year-old said that he was “just being stupid” and that it was “kind of a joke”. On Wednesday (25 February), Maughan was sentenced to 16 months behind bars for placing a hoax bomb with intent.