Sunderland man threatened to blow up building and accused stranger in the street of being a paedophile

Billy Carter, 35, of Dinsdale Street South, Sunderland, also admitted threatening to blow up a building when he appeared before magistrates in South Tyneside.

But the court heard Carter’s crimes were pleas for help – and magistrates requested reports into his mental health.

Prosecutor Jeff Taylor said at 12.15pm on Saturday, June 1, a woman at home in Dinsdale Street, Sunderland, heard Carter shout, “I’m going to blow the place up”.

He added: “He is arrested by the police and is clearly under the influence of some kind of intoxicant. He defaces a cell using his faeces.

“He said that he was just trying to get the attention of the police. He doesn’t intend to set fire to the building.”

South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard Carter also approached a couple as they walked near Sunderland Royal Hospital on Tuesday, June 18, and accused the man of being a paedophile.

Mr Taylor said: “He calls him a paedophile, he says that he was caretaker at a school, but he is actually an engineer. He’s ranting on and says, ‘I’ll rip your heads off, I’ll put in on the internet’.

“When in custody, he does the same thing with the faeces.”

The court was told Carter has 63 convictions from just over 100 previous offences.

Ian Martin, defending, said: “It tells the tale of a man who has significant mental health issues. It also tells the tale of a man who has drink and drugs issues but who is also engaging well.

“Mr Carter is not well, he has not been well for a very long time. At the time of these offences, he was manifestly unwell, he was trying to get help. It doesn’t excuse what he did but it does perhaps explain it.”

Unemployed Carter pleaded guilty to two charges of using threatening behaviour, two of criminal damage, and failing to surrender to custody, on October 15.

He will appear again before the court on Wednesday, March 4, and was granted conditional bail.