A CARLISLE man threatened to throw a Molotov cocktail at the door of the former Cumbria Partnership Trust offices in the city - before then threatening to do similar to police.

Matthew Adam Neale, 43 was already subject to a six-month suspended sentence after he led police on a dangerous Carlisle pursuit which caused about £9,000 damage to officers’ cars in July.

The latest offence saw Neale make a desperate 999 call to police, where he pleaded for help with his mental health problems.

Opening the phone call, he told the police call handler: “I am about to throw a Molotov cocktail through the front door of the Portland Square offices.”

The threat referred to the former mental health trust building on the road.

He went on to say: “I swear to you, I am incredibly serious. If I can’t get the support I need I am going to smash the windows.

“I will set alight the building. Come and see me now, otherwise you are in trouble.”

During the call - which was about two minutes in duration - Neale revisited previous threats made to police, which involved him threatening to send a box of chocolates containing a bomb to the Cumbria police headquarters in Penrith. Neale said those previous threats showed what he was capable of.

Amy Labram, prosecuting, said: “The defendant has six convictions for 11 offences.

“He has one like offence, that did involve threats to the police in 2014.”

Miss Labram added that the offence was aggravated by the fact that the call handler was serving the community.

Neale admitted a charge of sending a letter/communication/article conveying a threatening message to Cumbria police when he appeared at Carlisle’s magistrates’ court on Tuesday.

Defending Neale, of St Ann’s Road in the Etterby area of Carlisle, was Ant Wilson.

Mr Wilson said: “You have heard about the state of mind, there are some serious mental health issues.

“I agree that the case would be better sent to crown court.”

Presiding magistrate Jill Robinson said: “I am going to commit this offence to the crown court.”

Neale will be sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court on February 3, and was granted unconditional bail until then.

The court ordered a probation report should be completed.