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17/07/2012
Man Who Made Explosives Described By Judge As A 'Crank'
A man has been jailed for two-and-a-half years after admitting making explosives in a lock-up garage.
52-year-old Martin Counsell was arrested in May after police found the explosives in a garage in Buttermere Close and later pleaded guilty at Gloucester Crown Court to making the explosive substance TATP for an unlawful purpose.
Described by judge Jamie Tabor as a "crank", he said Counsell had an "obsessive fear of burglars", and he was a "lonely man who was making things in his garage which he shouldn't have done".
However he added that he was satisfied Counsell had no links to terrorism or any political agenda.
Det Ch Supt George Turner, Head of the South East Counter Terrorism Unit, said: "I believe that it is only a matter of good fortune that Counsell did not injure himself or others.
"In this case, his purpose was misguided, but extremely dangerous, and the severity of the materials he had in his possession made it necessary for our unit to become involved."
(H)
52-year-old Martin Counsell was arrested in May after police found the explosives in a garage in Buttermere Close and later pleaded guilty at Gloucester Crown Court to making the explosive substance TATP for an unlawful purpose.
Described by judge Jamie Tabor as a "crank", he said Counsell had an "obsessive fear of burglars", and he was a "lonely man who was making things in his garage which he shouldn't have done".
However he added that he was satisfied Counsell had no links to terrorism or any political agenda.
Det Ch Supt George Turner, Head of the South East Counter Terrorism Unit, said: "I believe that it is only a matter of good fortune that Counsell did not injure himself or others.
"In this case, his purpose was misguided, but extremely dangerous, and the severity of the materials he had in his possession made it necessary for our unit to become involved."
(H)
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