Sharnbrook man caused explosion at mother's home, court hears

A man obsessed with explosives who once requested to throw a grenade on Jim'll Fix It was injured in a blast at home, a court heard.

Matthew Haydon, 48, was hurt in the explosion in Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, on 10 April last year.

Afterwards, he told police about the request he once made to the former BBC children's show, jurors were told.

He is on trial at the Old Bailey accused of causing an explosion likely to endanger life or property.

Mr Haydon, who suffered wounds to his chest and hands, claimed he was "researching" explosives after being affected "quite badly" and caused "upset" by the Manchester Arena bombing - the court heard.

Opening the trial, prosecutor Margia Mostafa said the defendant had lived with his mother at the family home of 45 years.

His mother returned home and heard a loud bang from his home laboratory, jurors heard.

Mr Haydon, of Loring Road, Sharnbrook, was shouting "help me, help me" having suffered burns and bleeding.

The court heard his mother put him in the shower and called 999.

Neighbours also heard a loud thudding boom, felt their house shake and saw that the defendant's window had smashed, jurors were told.

After being treated in hospital, Mr Haydon was interviewed by police and admitted causing the explosion, Ms Mostafa said.

He allegedly told police: "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", jurors were told.

"I think I wrote off to Jim'll Fix It to ask if I could throw a hand grenade," he allegedly said.

The defendant also told police he had issues related to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Police 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 bought chemicals online, the court was told.

Jurors were shown footage of him carrying out various experiments with explosives.

In one video, he was heard commenting on a passing dog walker before detonating a device strapped to a tree.

Ms Mostafa said the defendant accepted he had mixed chemicals that caused an explosion but disputed that the level of explosive was sufficient to endanger life or property.

The trial continues.

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