Amanda Copley (35) left the aluminium suitcase in her house in Stephenson Close, March, with the words "Tick tock, tick tock, boom!" written on the front.

She also attached wires and a watch to the top of the case, in an attempt to make it look like a time bomb.

When police found the suitcase in June last year, the quiet cul-de-sac had to be evacuated and cordoned off, and the power supply was switched off.

Army bomb disposal experts were called and carried out a controlled explosion, when it was discovered that the case was a hoax.

Peterborough Crown Court was told yesterday Copley had also scrawled graffiti caricatures of her neighbours all over the walls of rooms inside after months of rows.

However, Copley, who now lives in County Durham, denied causing major flood damage to the house, after it was discovered the bath taps had been left on while the bath was full of rubbish.

Mitigating for a heavily pregnant Copley, Charles Faulk said she had a long history of problems with depression and alcoholism, and constant arguments with her neighbours had sent her on a downward spiral, to the point where she was evicted from the home.

Mr Faulk said: "At the time her children were running amok, causing trouble with the neighbours.

"When they heard she was being evicted, all the neighbours were cock-a-hoop and celebrating in her face. She thought her eviction was public entertainment, and she was at her lowest ebb.

"She had been drinking, and wanted to counteract the expected spectacle, so carried out the oafish and stupid plan.

"She did not want to cause major disruption, and is genuinely ashamed of her actions."

Sentencing Copley, who pleaded guilty to criminal damage and having an article with intent at a previous hearing, Judge Nicholas Coleman said: "It is suggested that this was a drunken and oafish act – but I think there was more thought than that. I have no doubt that a great deal of panic was caused by your stupidity."

Copley was sentenced to two months for criminal damage, and 10 months for the bomb hoax, to be served concurrently.

She was also given a one-month jail term for breaking a suspended sentence order, which will be served consecutively to the other term.