Bomb-making concerns after explosive substances found at home of Leeds drug addict
Resident claimed he was trying to make amphetamine
A resident who was caught storing explosive substances at his home claimed he was attempting to make amphetamine.
Jason Partridge had an array of chemicals at a property in Bramley, but Leeds Crown Court heard that questions remains over their purpose.
While he was addicted to amphetamine at the time, the Crown also said he had searched for the substances online using the term “explosives”.
He was handed a suspended sentence after it was heard the 38-year-old had spent six months held on remand before being granted bail.
Prosecutor Carmel Pearson said police had gone to his home on Rossefield Terrace on July 15 last year.
He answered the door and was asked by officers if he had any chemicals or explosives inside.
Partridge said he had hydrogen peroxide.
But once inside they found 1kg of oxalic acid, acetone, caustic soda, sodium carbonate, caffeine pills, five kilogrammes of cooking salt, iron filings, hydrogen peroxide, pure alcohol and chemistry sets including glass flasks.
None of the items had been used and remained sealed in their packages.
Having also seized his phone, they found searches for how to make amphetamine.
He had initially told police he had the chemicals to clean his house.
Partridge was denied bail and kept on remand, but confessed to a prison visitor that he would admit to attempting to make drugs, but would deny trying to make bombs.
He later admitted possession of a regulated substance without a licence, possession of 10 explosive substances with a lawful reason, and possession of cannabis after a small amount of the drug was found during the raid.
Mitigating, Celine Kart pointed to Partridge’s lack of previous convictions and his time spent on remand.
She accepted the substances could have been used for either bomb making or drugs, but said he had been addicted to amphetamine at the time.
Ms Kart said there was also no evidence that he was “engaged in terrorist ideology”, to which the judge agreed.
She added that since been held on remand, he had got clean from drugs.
The judge, the Recorder of Leeds Guy Kearl KC, told Partridge: “It’s plain from all of this that you are not an expert bomb maker.
“You did not have them [the substances] for any lawful purpose. It may well have been for experimentation.
“You may also have had an interest in making synthetic amphetamine.
“You had clearly researched chemicals to purchase. You were still some steps away from producing an explosive.
“You have still not admitted or explained the explosive part of what was found.
“I do not accept you are fully remorseful.”
He gave him a 32-month sentence, suspended for two years, ordered him to complete 100 hours of unpaid work, 20 rehabilitation days and put on a a six-month GPS electronic tag.