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Bomb maker who loved hobby so much his family made him a bomb birthday cake

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Compulsive bomb maker who loved hobby so much his family made him a bomb BIRTHDAY CAKE jailed after breaching asbo


  • Paul Smith, 41, was jailed after breaching asbo banning him making bombs
  • So obsessed with explosives that family made bomb-themed birthday cake
  • Neighbours reported him to police for continually setting off car alarms
  • He went on manufacturing explosives even after the asbo was served
  • But says he now realises he has to stop hobby 'in current political climate'
By JOHN HALL
PUBLISHED: 14:54 GMT, 10 January 2014 | UPDATED: 15:51 GMT, 10 January 2014

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Eccentric: Paul Smith was jailed after breaching an asbo banning him from making bombs

An eccentric bomb maker who was so obsessed with explosives that his family baked him a bomb-themed birthday cake has been jailed for breaching an asbo that banned him pursuing his hobby.Paul Smith, 41, told police 'Some people collect stamps. I make bombs' when questioned about his 10-year habit of setting off explosives at his parents' house in Hull.Mr Smith's family appeared happy with his choice of hobby, baking him a bomb-shaped birthday cake that read 'Paul 40 today. Hope it goes with a bang'. Their neighbours were less so, twice reporting him to police when they grew tired of the explosions setting off car alarms.

Police were originally called to Smith's home in March last year and soon realised he had reassembled a huge collection of bomb-making equipment in a sophisticated workshop they had taken apart 11 months before. He had a live pipe bomb, several dummy shells, a rocket launcher, several detonators, flash powder, ball bearings, charcoal for making gunpowder, transmitters and receivers and a sophisticated halogen light operating trigger and black paint lunch box.He was initially jailed for five months in April 2012 before being given an asbo in September 2012 but within six months of his release police called at his home to find him back to his old tricks.Today, at Hull Crown Court, Smith was jailed for 20 months after pleading guilty to breaching his asbo and having explosive substances at his home.


He bought his supplies off the internet where he also picked up his bomb-making skills and picked up unexploded munitions from RAF Cowden.Crown barrister Andrew Dallas told the latest hearing: 'The police were called to his home in March following complaints from neighbours hearing bangs at night.

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With a bang: Paul Smith was so obsessed with his hobby that his family made him an explosive-themed birthday cake. He later told police 'Some people collect stamps. I make bombs'

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Nuisance: Although Paul Smith's family appeared happy with his choice of hobby, their neighbours were less so, twice reporting him to police when they grew tired of the explosions setting off their car alarms

'The police searched his shed close to his parents house where they found a large number of items, which show defendant was not deterred from possessing explosive material. It was a laboratory.
'There is no evidence he was politically or ideologically motivated it was just a fascination with explosives.'In the latest raid the police found dummy shells - in a draw with a small cylinder in between - which appeared to be a pipe bomb.

An army bomb disposal team from Catterick had to take it to a disused dock and carry out a controlled explosion.They also found a modified halogen bulb with exposed filaments and trigger capable of becoming an improvised explosive device.'A scientist who examined it concluded it was a viable improvised explosive that was capable of exploding forcing out metal objects capable of injuring any person near it,' said Mr Dallas.'The area around Mr Smiths home is heavily populated.'

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Repeat offender: Paul Smith was arrested after officers found he had reassembled a huge collection of bomb making equipment in a sophisticated workshop they had taken apart 11 months before

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Evidence: Hull Crown Court heard there was no sign Paul Smith was politically or ideologically motivated and his extensive bomb collection was described as 'just a fascination with explosives'

During the raids in April 2012 police found a series of home-made detonators and stock-pile of scaffolding tubing. He had ten shotgun cartridges, a hoard of 9mm bullets and a store of gun-powder. Chemicals including sulphur, iron oxide and magnesium were held in storage jars on the shelves.

He used a pack lunch box to make a remote controlled detonator. There was a pestle and mortar for mixing gun-powder and DVDs of him exploding bombs on Cowden beachMr Dallas said Smith a former electrician had been collecting gunpowder from unexploded bombs found in eroding cliffs at Great Cowden.Smith denied in police interview he had returned to his hobby and said he had stopped taking amphetamines.

When originally questioned in 2012 he said: 'I don't know what all the fuss is about. Everyone knows I make small bombs. Some people collect stamps I make small bombs even my birthday cake was bomb-shaped.'His defence barrister David Gordon said: 'He is no jailbird, but has spent the last 15 months in Hull Prison. The explosive matters are the only difficulty he has had with the criminal courts. He has found the experience of prison very upsetting and salutary.'

'This case has nothing to do with terrorist activity Mr Smith has been investigated by the local constabulary and above. What he was doing was his hobby. He has had a long-standing, and unhealthy interest, in homemade fireworks for his own pleasure and that of his family.''Terrorists go to significant lengths to try and keep what they are doing a secret. There was nothing covert about what Mr Smith did as a hobby. He put on displays on November 5 and for birthdays.'

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Pipe bomb: Paul Smith says he now realises his hobby, which included making home made pipe bombs (pictured), is not one which he can continue in the current political and social climate

Mr Gordon added: 'He is well known for it among his family. So much so, for his 40th birthday, a member of his family gave him a cake in the shape of a bomb. The kind you would see on Tom and Jerry. There is no suggestion he has caused harm to anyone other than to his own mental health while he has been in prison.'He now realises his hobby is not one which he can continue in the current political and social climate even if he has not caused anyone harm."Recorder Tim Hirst ordered Smith to stand as he told him he had to be sentenced for breaching his asbo and the possession of explosives. 'I am quite sure these items were assembled after the asbo was enforced,' said Mr Hirst.

'The halogen bulb, triggering devices, flash powder and ball bearings were all prohibited by that order. There has to be a prison sentence. The possession of explosives is dangerous especially in the hands of someone who has already been prohibited from holding them."He ordered Smith should be the subject of a 20-month prison sentence and five-year Serious Crime Prevention Order. He was returned to jail. Smith is banned from possession flares or fireworks and a host of chemicals and acids. The Recorder ordered the destruction of his entire bomb making equipment.



 
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