A MAN from Blackwood who made a series of bomb hoaxes has been spared jail.

William Smith, 29, made false bomb reports about the Blisters nightclub, a location outside a Tenovus charity shop and the bus station, all in Bargoed.

Smith had an "antipathy" towards the police, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

His barrister, Eugene Egan, told the court he had a "low IQ" of 69 when he was last assessed and was "deemed to have a personality disorder".

Smith, of Countryman Court, Heol Tynewydd, Blackwood, denied three counts of making a bomb hoax between April 5 and 6 but was found guilty following a trial.

Judge David Wynn Morgan imposed a 12-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years.

He told Smith: "I'm giving you this chance. If you break this chance, if you let me down, you will go to prison."

Mr Egan said his client had "struggled in mainstream life" adding that he was "more vulnerable" than other members of the public.

The court heard Smith had been "shunted around somewhat" during his childhood and the judge said it had been "very sad".

He also spent three months as an impatient at a facility in Ystrad Mynach receiving psychiatric treatment, the court was told.

However, Mr Egan stressed that his client had managed to keep out of trouble for five years before the bomb hoaxes.

The trial took place at Newport Crown Court over two days, between August 12 and 13.

Judge Wynn Morgan also ordered Smith to complete a three-month overnight home curfew and pay a £100 surcharge.