A schoolboy who planted a hoax bomb at his school cried as he was locked up for Christmas.

The 15-year-old - who cannot be named for legal reasons - planted the device because he had not completed an assignment for geography lesson, Witham Youth Court heard.

The teenager admitted at an earlier hearing to an offence of intending to induce a belief the device was likely to explode or ignite and cause personal injury or damage to property.

Annette Redgrave, prosecuting, said the boy learnt how to make the bomb from the internet.

She added: "At no time during the proceedings did he admit to placing the bomb."

A teacher at the mid-Essex school discovered the device as lessons were starting on September 7.

The police and the Royal Logisitic Corps bomb disposal experts were called to the school and a controlled explosion was carried out on the device.

Peter Richards, mitigating, said the boy, had become stressed when he had not been able to complete the geography work.

Mr Richards said planting the bomb - which could not have exploded because it had no detonator - was a disproportionate reaction to perceived stress.

He added: "He was so caught up in his own anxiety he did not see the effect his actions would have on other people."

The boy cried yesterday (Monday) as he was given a four-month custodial sentence.

He will serve two months in a secure unit and two months under a Community Service Order.

John Martin, chairman of the bench, said: "The offence you committed was methodically planned using the internet. At no time during the incident did you stop this happening by admitting your faults."

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