West Ealing man found guilty of bomb hoax

The court heard how the 56-year-old had befriended Laura and Ben Boswell who lived in London, but when the couple uprooted to Winslow in Buckinghamshire, he started a litany of abuse.

List felt the move was 'tantamount to abandonment' and was made subject to a restraining order which he breached on April 15 this year.

After unsuccessfully trying to break into the house at 6.45am, List, who was armed with an imitation gun, rang the door bell and when Mr Boswell saw the gun, he slammed the door after him.

The couple barricaded themselves in their bedroom and called for police before escaping through a window.

List later broke in through the back door and locked himself inside the property before telling police he would be carrying out a citizen's arrest on Mrs Boswell for allegedly committing perjury.

Officers surrounded the house and during negotiations with List, he told them he had planted explosives around the property.

But he later left the house and after his arrest, admitted he did not have any detonation devices.

Police raided his home in West Ealing and found a holster for the replica Browning pistol and a timing pencil without explosives.

They also found a receipt and packaging used to make fake explosive devices which he had used on the morning of the siege.

Detective Sergeant Bob Ducker from Aylesbury Police who investigated the case, said: "We are glad we were able to arrest List to protect not just the Boswells, but potentially also other people from this unpredictable man.

"Making threats by using imitation firearms and explosives is, in the eyes of the law, almost as serious as using the real thing."

In a statement, Laura Boswell, said: "I am extremely relieved that this terrible period of our lives is now over and my family and I can attempt to return to a normal life."

List is due to be sentenced at Aylesbury Crown Court on December 3.