An elderly businessman was so heavily in debt he placed a fake bomb at his bank and demanded a ransom, a court heard.

The Santander Bank and surrounding area in Sevenoaks was evacuated after Reginald Esqulant handed over a letter in which he threatened to explode the device if the cash was not paid, it was claimed.

The 73-year-old father claims he only wanted to speak to the manager about threatening letters and telephone calls he had been receiving about a missing mortgage payment.

“He said he would have words with the bank manager and ask him how would you like to get threatening letters,” said his lawyer William Ryan.

He also claimed he had no intention of getting any money from the bank.

But prosecutor Jennifer Oborne said Esqulant was desperate for money because he was in serious debt and faced a demand at the time from HM Revenue and Customs for over £106,162.

Esqulant, of Fawkham Road, West Kingsdown, admits making the hoax, but denies blackmail, taking a car without authority and driving while disqualified.

Wearing latex gloves, Esqulant was said to have gone to the High Street bank on February 8 this year and passed the letter in an envelope to cashier Patricia Booth in the reception area and asked for it to be given to the manager.

He left the bank after he tried to light a cigarette and was told he could not smoke in the building, the court heard.

The letter, addressed to Main Officer, read: "A explosive very strong in public area of your building don't move staff from their places or public we can see you from outside use black bags for notes you will bring bag out of the building turn left into the alleyway walk to end empty shop place bags down in doorway once we scan bags for devices and check notes clean and no dye you will be fine to clear building copy of this note go to head office so any harm of staff or public will be only your responsibility act professional no harm to anyone check bags will take 15-20 minutes only no police uniform or normal clothes we will see them."

Miss Oborne said Esqulant had written the letter in the bank. The money was to be left in an empty butchers shop in an alleyway called The Shambles.

Staff were initially not sure what to make of it but then saw that a brown box had been left in the reception area.

“They became extremely concerned as you imagine,” Miss Oborne told the jury. “A threat like that cannot be ignored.

“The police were called and the bank and surrounding area were evacuated. A cordon was put around the area.

"We say it is beyond a hoax. This is an act of blackmail. He made clear it is a demand for money withe menaces, the demand being ‘Give me the money or I will set a bomb off and blow up the bank’" - Jennifer Oborne

“The Army was brought in and the package was examined. It was found to be a hoax and destroyed.

“We say it is beyond a hoax. This is an act of blackmail. He made clear it is a demand for money withe menaces, the demand being ‘Give me the money or I will set a bomb off and blow up the bank’.

Police looked at CCTV footage of the area and saw Esqulant walking in South Park with a package. He went to the empty shop and then to the bank.

He left the device and returned later in a VW Golf car. He drove along London Road and went into a car park. He walked back to the High Street before returning to the car.

Miss Oborne said Esqulant was checking if the money had been left for him. The car did not belong to him and he was banned from driving at the time.

It was when he was arrested at his home about four hours later that officers found a letter from HMRC dated December 24 2015 demanding payment of £106,162 and a letter dated December 4 asking for outstanding VAT returns as sole director of his company.

There was a text message mentioning a debt of £2,706 to an accountant.

“With regards motivation, the Crown simply says he was in debt and driven to desperate measures, perhaps to alleviate that debt,” said Miss Oborne.

“There are no winners here. At the time he was finding life truly difficult but the method used to alleviate that financial burden was wholly inappropriate and caused other people a lot of fear and distress.”

Mr Ryan, defending, told jurors Esqulant relied on the fact that he did not disguise himself and was in an area where he had been known as a licensee of pubs for a long time.

The trial continues.