Prison for 'fantasist' bomb maker

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A "misguided fantasist" with an "unhealthy interest" in the military has been jailed for two years for building bombs in his bedroom.

Justin Cartwright, 38, a joiner from Penwortham in Lancashire, admitted several terror and explosives' charges.

The former member of the Territorial Army made crude bombs and downloaded several terror training manuals.

Preston Crown Court heard he was not a terrorist, but had hoped to train security staff to deal with extremists.

When police searched Cartwright's house, which he shares with his parents, they found a firework containing a light bulb, an electrified clothes peg and a tub of aluminium powder.

Police also discovered three terrorist training manuals on his computer - The White Resistance Manual, The Proper Anarchist's Cookbook and a handbook for Muslim extremists.

What he was proposing was out of touch with reality. It had no place in the real world David Farrell QC

Cartwright admitted five counts of making explosives, one count of possessing explosives and three counts of owning information useful to terrorism.

John Bromley-Davenport, defending, told the court Cartwright had no connection with terrorists and never intended to hurt anyone,.

He had a "real desire" to start a security training firm to fight terrorism, said the barrister.

"He had hopes of creating training programmes for close protection services. He had connections in that world. He had been a doorman. He is not and has never been a terrorist."

"He does feel genuine remorse for this. He is absolutely clear he is not going to get involved with anything like this in the future."

'Extremely foolish'

David Farrell QC, prosecuting, told the court Cartwright 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."

Judge Anthony Russell told Cartwright: "I accept you have no connection with any terrorist organisation or extreme political organisation.

"The devices could have been used for some form of terrorist act and could have caused some harm and fear.

"You made them in your own home with no proper safeguarding for your family or the public."