AN alcoholic who rang police claiming to have planted a bomb in a busy Colne pub after she was thrown out, has walked free from court.

Kelly Stainsby, 26, wanted to terrify a woman she had rowed with into believing she was going to be blown up at the Union Exchange.

The police did not alert the bomb squad either and the clientele was none the wiser any threat had been made, Burnley Crown Court heard. The defendant had referred to Semtex, told officers she hoped all the customers would die and alleged a device would go off in an hour. She later pulled a knife when confronted by police.

She was sentenced to a 12 month jail term, suspended for two years, and told the public expected judges to pass severe sentences in such cases to mark its disapproval and as a deterrent.

But, the judge, who told the court he had at first thought custody was unavoidable, added Stainsby had now "returned to sobriety." He was prepared to accept she was not the woman she was two months ago when the offences were committed.

Stainsby, of Colin Street, Barnoldswick, admitted communicating a bomb hoax and affray on April 24.

Roger Green, prosecuting, said Stainsby and her partner, who had been drinking heavily, were ejected from the pub. She then phoned 999 on her mobile stating there was a bomb in the premises.

The landlady instructed the staff to conduct a "sweep," of the premises to look for anything suspicious and dealt with the threat in a "rather undramatic way". About an hour later the defendant phoned police saying she had a knife and was going to stab her partner.

Officers went to her home and she came to the door with a large carving knife in her hand. Mr Green said Stainsby told an officer to stay away or she would use the nine inch bladed weapon.

She was ordered to put the knife down and she threw it to the floor and was arrested.

Tim Storrie, defending, said Stainsby was well known in Colne and staff at the Union Exchange knew exactly how to evaluate the bomb threat. Stainsby, who was going through a crisis at the time, knew she could be facing prison.

She had a history of disadvantage which knew no parallel and turned to drink at an early age. She was an "experienced drunk," but had now been free of alcohol for some time.