A man from Chester who threatened to burn down the Flint offices of the probation service if he was sent to prison has been jailed.

Leigh Jason May, 25, made the threat in a phone call with a probation officer, Flintshire Magistrates Court was told.

He denied a charge of threatening to cause damage by fire and was due to go on trial – but pleaded guilty to an alternative public order offence charge at an earlier hearing.

Appearing for sentence at the Mold court, he was jailed for a total of 20 weeks.

He received 20 weeks for being in breach of a previously suspended sentence and received a concurrent four week sentence for the new offence.

May, of Cemlyn Close in Blacon, rang probation at 4pm on January 31.

Told he was in breach of his order he became aggressive and referring to a forthcoming court case said: “If I get 10 weeks I am going to burn the f…… Flint probation offices down when I’m released.”

The probation officer was unable to get a word in due to his repeated swearing and ended the call.

The probation service made a formal complaint and May was arrested on suspicion of making a threat.

He claimed it was not him on the other end of the phone.

May had previous convictions for 37 offences.

Magistrates heard he had mental health difficulties and suffered from severe attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and bipolar.

Issues arose about a sick note which was why he was in contact with the probation service.

The offence was not planned but he had a bit of a rant in frustration which he appreciated was not the right thing to do.

He made a stupid comment on the spur of the moment.