An amateur bomb-maker who posted homemade explosives through the letterbox of his GP practice is facing years behind bars.
Bomb disposal experts had to be called out to the Boughton Surgery in the quiet Norfolk village of Feltwell on 28 January 2016 after it was targeted by Ozzie Welsh, 39, who used three devices made out of potassium nitrate, sulphur and aluminium powder.
Welsh pleaded guilty to possessing explosives on the first day of his trial at the Old Bailey and admitted he planned to cause an explosion – but he claims that he did not intend to endanger life or cause serious damage.
His lawyer Philip Farr told the court: ’The defendant accepts manufacturing three devices which he placed through the letterbox of his doctor’s surgery.
’These contained potassium permanganate, aluminium powder, potassium nitrate and sulphur. He accepts these were explosive substances.
’Although the defendant intended to cause an explosion he did not intend by his actions to cause an explosion of such nature to endanger life or cause serious damage to property.
’He does accept damage was caused to the doctor’s surgery and there was a potential for serious damage to be caused. He does not accept there was ever a risk of serious injury being caused to another person.
‘The defendant maintains they were manufactured some months previously along with other devices he describes as fireworks. He had previously been spoke to by police about setting off such devices in his garden.’
Judge Paul Lucraft QC adjourned sentencing until 13 March to allow time for the preparation of a pre-sentence report on the issue of dangerousness.
Welsh, of Short Lane, in Feltwell, Norfolk, pleaded guilty to having an explosive substance.
A charge of doing an act with intent to cause an explosion was left to lie on file.
Welsh was remanded in custody until sentencing.
After the hearing Det Chief Insp Marie James, from the Norfolk and Suffolk major investigation team, said: ’The devices recovered from the surgery were later tested by specialists and found to be viable improvised explosives.
‘While no one was injured, offences involving explosive substances are treated with the utmost seriousness and we will investigate these incident thoroughly.’
