A WALLASEY man who made five bomb hoax calls when drunk was jailed for 27 months today, Tuesday.

Jailing Kevin Murphy a judge told him, "You have recklessly wasted 60 hours of police time."

Judge Robert Warnock told 61-year-old Murphy that the offences, which involved hoaxes involving areas where the public congregate, clearly crossed the custody threshold.

He also made a five year Anti-Social Behaviour Order banning Murphy from entering public houses and drinking in public.

Murphy, of Osborne Grove, Wallasey, pleaded guilty to make five bomb hoax calls.

Claire Jones, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court that two of the offences involved a pub in Birkenhead and the others related to Birkenhead Market and Birkenhead court on days between August 2, 2013 and July 16 last year. 

The first call was made from a phone box in Mill Lane, Wallasey, and police officers found Murphy, who was drunk, sitting on a bench across the road. He was arrested and after the call was listened to it was realised he was the person who had made it.

The next call was from a phone box in Conway Street, Birkenhead and again he was spotted sitting opposite the kiosk and again drunk.

The third call was also made in Birkenhead and CCTV evidence placed him in the area of the phone box before re-entering the John Laird public house.

Officers went to his home after identifying his voice and Murphy, who was drunk, was spoken to but not told the content of the call. He said, "I don't know what you are on about, I've made no bomb call".

The last two calls were both made by him on July 16 last year claiming bombs had been planted in Birkenhead Market and the local court. He was seen nearby and arrested and at the police station said, "Is it about a bomb?".

John Ballam, defending, said that Murphy, who has "dozens" of convictions for being drunk and disorderly, is a former roofing contractor. He accepts it was his voice in the phone calls "but cannot explain it and cannot recall it. Having reflected on the situation he is ashamed."

He said it was "a stupid prank" while inebriated which fortunately did not lead to panic or evacuations.