Wellington bomb hoaxer 'should serve full jail term'

Councillor Phil Morris-Jones said people in the town could not understand the motives of Alister Taylor, who placed a fake bomb outside Wellington's Medical Practice in July last year.

Taylor, 20, was jailed for 20 months at Shrewsbury Crown Court after admitting a charge of placing an article with intent causing the belief that it was likely to explode or ignite.

The court heard the device, which was made up of an aerosol can, copper wiring and part of a CD drive, was planted outside Wellington Medical Practice in July last year to "stir up racial tension". A note was found with the fake bomb saying: "To all Christians in Wellington – sweet dreams".

Taylor's actions caused Victoria Road to be sealed off and bomb disposal units called after a member of the public took the fake bomb to the town;s police station.

Two controlled explosions were carried out at the scene to make the area safe.

Councillor Morris-Jones said that the sentence handed to Taylor, of Victoria Avenue, was right – as long as he serves all of it.

He said: "I think the sentence was long enough, but 10 months if he only serves half of it seems very little for the problems he caused people that day."

Councillor Morris-Jones said that the people of Wellington and the emergency services had managed the situation well.

He said: "It was very scary, particularly in this current climate. Having said that Wellington dealt with it very well and the people do not scare easily.

"I have never known Wellington so quiet. I do think the whole thing was very well handled though. I think the emergency services and the people of Wellington coped very well."

During Moinday's hearing, the court was told Taylor was autistic and that he had not fully understood the consequences of his actions at the time.

Judge Peter Barrie, sentencing Taylor, told him he had an "unhealthy fascination" with military matters.