11/09/2026
This is Sean McCrystal. He threatened to bomb illegal immigrants "getting benefits he couldn't possibly get". 😮
The 61-year-old had grown frustrated at watching TV news about people coming into the country while he was struggling to get help himself.
On March 26 this year, he sent a number of messages to Northumbria Police via Facebook, including one which included the phrase "let's see how boom wakes you up", Newcastle Crown Court heard.
Police attended his home and he appeared agitated and told them he hated the government and hated "invaders" who were coming into the country and said he "wanted to make them go boom".
He went into his kitchen and pulled from a cupboard "something that had the appearance of an improvised explosive device". He put it on the floor in front of the PC who had gone to speak to him and said: "I mean what I say. I want them to go boom."
McCrystal was taken into custody and another officer attended at the address to seize the device. It consisted of a long tube filled with nails, with a clock, wires and Styrofoam.
He had sent an image of it to an associate with a message saying: "See if this will kill lots of invaders. I'm going to blow up invaders' hotels. I can't manage to get the device together. You have any grenades for me mate."
McCrystal, 61, of Lough Court, Gateshead, who has five previous convictions, including for possessing an imitation fi***rm with intent from 2020, pleaded guilty to communicating false information with intent.
Glenn Gatland, defending, said: "He was wanting help but he felt very angry when he watched the news and saw others, whatever their background, were coming into the country getting help and benefits he couldn't possibly get."
Judge Tim Gittins sentenced McCrystal to 12 months in prison but said he is likely to be released soon due to the time he has served on remand.