An Easter Ross man made a call to police threatening to set fire to a house which he claimed was a bomb-making factory.
John Macdonald, of Parkland Place, Balintore, said it was to be in retribution for the Manchester Arena bomb attack five days earlier.
But the 40-year-old, described as having mental health issues, made no effort to make his threat anonymous – he gave his name and his number could be seen.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard yesterday that police treated the early morning call on May 27 seriously and tried to call Macdonald back several times in a bid to locate his whereabouts.
Fiscal depute Karen Smith told Sheriff David Sutherland that the calls went unanswered for over an hour.
Eventually Macdonald answered but refused to hand himself in before surrendering to Tain Police Station three hours later, Mrs Smith said.
Defence solicitor Alison Foggo said her client had suffered “variable mental health” over an 18 month period.
“After this offence, he was admitted to New Craigs Hospital for two to three months and appeared to stabilise.
“However as his trial date in June this year approached, his depression got worse and he took flight to Ayr to work and get his mental health under control.
“He returned this weekend with the intention of handling himself in but he took to drink and again came to the attention of the police.
“He regrets the incomprehensible rant he made.” Ms Foggo added.
Macdonald appeared from custody and admitted behaving in a threatening manner, uttering threats to smash windows and petrol bomb a house Tain, occupied by Asians, in retribution for the Manchester terrorist attack.
Sentence was deferred for a psychiatric and background report until September 24 at Tain Sheriff Court.
Macdonald was again remanded in custody.