Weapons-obsessed man found guilty over explosion at his Bedfordshire home

Original source (on modern site) | Article images: [1] [2]

A man whose obsession with weaponry once led him to ask to throw a grenade on the children's television programme Jim'll Fix It has been found guilty of causing an explosion in his home.

Matthew Haydon, 48, sustained wounds to his chest and hands in a blast at his family home in the Bedfordshire village of Sharnbrook on 10 April last year. Afterwards, he told police of his longstanding interest in explosives, citing his request to the former BBC show.

He said he had been "researching" explosives after feeling affected by what had happened at an Ariana Grande concert, in an apparent reference to the Manchester Arena suicide bombing.

His mother found him burned, bleeding and shouting "Help me, help me" after the incident, a jury at the Old Bailey heard.

Haydon's mother put him in the shower to relieve the pain, and called 999, the court was told. Neighbours also heard a loud thudding boom, felt their house shake and saw that the defendant's window had smashed.

After being treated in hospital, Haydon was interviewed by police and admitted causing the explosion, the court heard. He said: "I don't believe it was malicious. It was an accident. It wasn't an intended detonation."

He said he had always been "obsessed with all kinds of weaponry, explosives in particular". He said: "I think I wrote off to Jim'll Fix It to ask if I could throw a hand grenade."

He told officers he was "researching about explosives" because of "what happened at the Ariana Grande concert". He said the bombing had affected him "quite badly". Haydon also told police he had issues related to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Officers searched his home laboratory and seized chemicals, equipment, electronic devices and handwritten notes, jurors heard. On his laptop were instructions for explosives, and there was evidence he had bought chemicals online, the court was told.