A MAN WHO intimidated, threatened to kill and placed a hoax bomb outside the office of an MP in Belfast has been jailed.

Jonathan Ginn admitted placing a hoax bomb outside East Belfast MP Naomi Long’s constituency office in October 2013 with a belief that it was likely to explode or ignite.

The 33-year-old made threats to kill Chris Lyttle and Naomi Long and was also convicted of intimidating Chris Lyttle.

Ginn was sentenced to three years, half of which will be in prison and half on licence.

Detective Sergeant Mark Bell said: “On 2nd October 2013 a device was placed outside the Alliance Party Office on the Upper Newtownards Road by a man wearing a flat cap and a high visibility jacket with a horizontal stripe. On CCTV footage, this man could be seen coming towards the building with an extremely distinctive walk.”

“We were able to ascertain that Ginn had an extremely distinctive walk because he suffered from Cerebral Palsy. When interviewed by police, he denied involvement but later pleaded guilty.

“On 11th October 2014 Mr Ginn made a threatening phone call from a public phone box in Portadown to the Alliance Party Office, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast. This phone call contained a threat to kill Naomi Long and Chris Lyttle. 

His actions took place at a time when there were heightened tensions in the area and may indeed have increased them.

“Today’s sentence should be a warning to others that there are significant consequences for those who seek to threaten elected representatives just because they disagree with their views.”