'Fantasist' jailed over home-made bombs

A "misguided fantasist" who built makeshift bombs in his bedroom was jailed for two years yesterday.

Justin Cartwright, 38, from Penwortham, Lancashire, UK, admitted a string of charges relating to terrorism and explosives.

The joiner made crude explosive devices at his home in Woodville Road, and downloaded several terrorist training manuals. But his purpose was to stop terrorists, and he hoped to start a business training security officers to deal with extremists, Preston Crown Court heard. Mr Cartwright, a former member of the Territorial Army, had an "unhealthy interest" in the military, the court heard.

A firework containing a lightbulb, a plastic shell attached to a nine-volt battery, an electrified wooden clothes peg, and a tub of aluminium powder were all found when officers searched his house in April last year. A polystyrene block painted black, which was designed to contain mercury, was also discovered, the court heard.

The device was "highly foolish, highly reckless and a possible source of injury", David Farrell QC, prosecuting, told the court.

Three terrorist training manuals were uncovered on his computer - The White Resistance Manual, The Proper Anarchist's Cookbook and an explorer's handbook for Muslim extremists.

The Army was called to evacuate his house, which he shares with his parents, and that of his neighbours.

Mr Cartwright was arrested then let out on bail with an electronic tag two months later, but he was arrested again in October when police found similar devices at his house. However, it later emerged the items were missed by officers who conducted the original search.

Mr Farrell told the court the defendant was "a fantasist" who was "plainly misguided and extremely foolish". He added: "What he was proposing was out of touch with reality. It had no place in the real world of close protection training. It was his fantasy world feeding his fascination with the military."