A SECURITY worker who told police he was armed and had planted bombs across Colchester during a hoax IRA terror threat will be supervised for three years.

Ross Frame, 38, called police to warn there were up to 15 bombs planted around the town, including at Colchester Garrison.

During the hoax, Frame, who gave his name to police as Michael Murphy, also spoke in an Irish accent and told the 999 call handler she had “ten seconds to comply”.

He also told the handler to dispatch cars to North Station Road and St John’s Green to showhis threat was being taken seriously.

Frame, of South Street, Colchester, ended the call by giving a warning and counting down from five to zero.

The security worker, who suffers from bipolar disorder, was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court, where he was given a three-year community order.

He must also complete any programme which the Probation Service offers him.

Police initially took Frame’s call, made shortly after 6.20am on February 2, seriously.

However, they soon realised he was calling from a number used to report a domestic incident months before.

Officers then tracked him down at his home, where he was arrested.

During police interview, Frame was played a recording of the call.

He was “horrified” and immediately apologised. He had earlier admitted one charge of communicating false information.