A hoax bomber has been sentenced to two years in jail for threatening to blow up three branches of Marks and Spencer’s in December last year.

Philip Harris, from Windsor Crescent, Farnham, made the threats as “revenge” for what he described as “a continued campaign” by Surrey Police to arrest him for drink-driving.

But the 53-year-old mistakenly made the threats on December 16 and 17 at three stores, in Sutton, Croydon and Kingston, covered by three Metropolitan Police stations rather than Surrey Police.

He also claimed their was a bomb in the Old Bank Pub next to Sutton train station.

Harris, who has several drink-driving convictions, claimed that was “frustrated” after being stopped by Surrey police and breathalysed five or six times a day.

The threats were made at on the evening of both days in December so the branches were not open and were empty.

Marc Maitland, defending Harris, said it was a “sad irony” that his client only realised he had targetted the wrong police force when he was arrested at Sutton station after the call regarding The Old Bank Pub.

Reacting to the news of Harris’ sentence, a source at The Old Bank Pub , said: “When th epolice told me they had had a call about a bomb I thought it was a Christmas training exercise.

“He added 20 minutes to my closing-up procedure after a long day at work so I’m pleased to hear it.”

Sentencing Harris, Judge Stephen Waller said: “I am told that a huge amount of police resources were wasted. You are 53-years-old and you have a previous convictions for an offences similar to this.

“Only a custodial sentence will suffice for an offence of this type. The sentence will be two years for each count to run concurrently minus the 97 days you spent on remand.”