A Bangladeshi who defrauded a man and then told the police that the victim was going to bomb the American and British embassies has been given a suspended sentence.

Eakramul Hasan admitted to telling Abdul Ghani Shah that he would get him a visa, giving him to understand he had contacts here and would sort something out. Mr Hasan requested a payment of €2,000 for his services.

After receiving the money, Mr Hasan called the newsroom of The Times from a payphone saying that bombs were to be placed at the embassies within a day or two. He gave details of the attack and the names and addresses of the alleged attacker, who turned out to be Mr Shah. He then rang up the police control room and gave them similar details.

As proceedings were underway Mr Hasan admitted to the charges.

Taking into consideration his clean police record, Magistrate Miriam Hayman jailed the man for two years suspended for four.