A MAN who warned that he had explosives and sparked an evacuation and major armed police response has been found not guilty of using threatening behaviour.

David Walker told a neighbour he had one explosive for the police and another for an individual before setting fire to an aerosol can which exploded in a communal garden, Poole magistrates heard.

The court was told that a jar of nails, a jar with a white substance inside, a syringe and another device were later found in the oven inside Walker’s flat.

All were discovered to be harmless after analysis.

Walker, 43, failed to turn up for a trial yesterday but the case continued in his absence.

At an earlier hearing, Walker had denied using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of violence.

At the conclusion of the trial, magistrates found him not guilty and said the prosecution had failed to prove the case.

Witnesses alleged Walker, who now lives in Bradford, made threats during a disturbance at a block of flats in Gillam Road in the early hours of Thursday, August 17 this year.

Noise abatement officers and police were called to the flats due to loud music and flashing lights coming from Walker’s flat.

The court heard that Walker argued with the noise abatement officer and allegedly said: “You clear off out of here - I am not doing anything wrong.”

When asked to turn down his music, Walker turned it up louder before collecting items from a lock-up and warning he had explosives.

Around 30 people were evacuated and armed officers attended the scene until Walker was arrested, the court was told.

Neighbour Kayleigh Hancock said: “I hear a loud bang. It was like a firework going off.”

And fellow neighbour Mark Duncan added: “I was scared for my own life.”

Police, ordnance disposal teams, firefighters and paramedics all rushed to Gillam Road in Kinson at 12.50am on August 17.