Overview
- John Maughan, 49, was charged with placing a hoax bomb with intent and pleaded not guilty at South East Northumberland Magistrates' Court.
- Magistrates remanded him in custody to appear at Newcastle Crown Court on December 16.
- Northumbria Police said a second man in his 20s was released on bail pending further inquiries.
- The item, taped to a bollard outside a Nisa on Durham Road in Birtley, prompted evacuations and a large cordon on Monday morning.
- An EOD robot carried out a controlled explosion, the package was declared not a risk, the cordon was lifted, and local bus routes 21 and 28 briefly diverted.