A man who threatened to blow up a block of flats in Sheffield city centre leading to a police siege lasting three days has been jailed for seven years.
On 10 February last year, Yaqub Younis, 49, falsely told residents and armed police he had guns and explosives in his apartment and would open fire from his balcony at The Gateway on Broad Street.
Following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court which ended in June, he was found guilty of communicating false information with intent, intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance, affray and criminal damage to property.
Sentencing him, the Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, told Younis his actions had "caused incalculable harm".
The bomb hoax, which Younis made while on recall to prison, triggered an evacuation of about 100 people and brought the city centre to a standstill for nearly 34 hours.
Police attended the building and put a cordon in place, but Younis refused to cooperate and remained in his flat for the entirety of the siege.
Sentencing him, Judge Richardson said: "The tram network was severely affected, which had immense impact on the citizens of this city.
"Schools and hospitals were affected. Massive extra expenses were incurred.
"The total cost on the impact on the authorities/public purse was £195,000."
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