The amount of explosives found in the shed of a Burnham-On-Sea man’s home was allegedly enough to cause structural damage up to 50 yards away and posed a significant risk to life, a court heard this week.
Philip Leonard, pictured, faces four charges of making explosive substances for an unlawful purpose between December 31st and January 21.
Police found 20g of hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (HMTD), 100g-150g of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), 31g of picric acid and 5g of lead picrate.
Mr Leonard was charged after a raid last Friday at his house in Beatty Way last Friday when scores of residents were evacuated and a 100-metre exclusion zone was put in place.
The 36 year-old appeared before Taunton Deane Magistrates Court and was remanded in custody to appear at Taunton Crown Court on February 6th.
Crispin Hayllar, defending, told the court there was “nothing to suggest he was going to use them in a malicious way.”
FURTHER COVERAGE OF THE BEATTY WAY INVESTIGATION:
Police praise goodwill of residents
Burnham resident charged after explosives raid
Evacuation centre praised by residents
Beatty Way cordon lifted by police
More photos of the police investigation in Beatty Way
Recycling collections delayed by police probe
Police confirm incident ‘was not terrorism related’
Video of the army bomb disposal team at the scene
