Loner lost seven fingers when home-made bomb exploded

4:57pm Monday 9th June 2008

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A LONER blew off his fingers during an experimental explosion to cure his boredom.

Owen Dodds, who lived in the "middle of nowhere" and had no friends, had a fascination with explosives and took to manufacturing his own to pass the time.

His potentially deadly secret was exposed when a device exploded in his bedroom at the remote Ravenscleugh Farm, Otterburn, Northumberland, on January 2 - blowing off seven of his fingers.

Investigators from Northumbria Police and the armed forces, who at first feared he may be a terrorist, found Dodds had made improvised explosive devices using hydroperoxide, sulphuric acid and potassium nitrate.

He had used common household objects such as clothes pegs, lightbulbs and clocks to make the explosives, shrapnel and detonators.

He had also put together a home-made pistol which was capable of firing real bullets.

Police investigators took one highly explosive substance on a 300 mile trip to a laboratory in Kent - unaware of the danger they were transporting.

The 29-year-old admitted 12 offences of making and possessing improvised explosives and explosives, one of manufacturing a firearm and one of possessing ammunition when prohibited.

Defence barrister Paul Caulfield told the court: "He was lonely, isolated and bored.

"He had an unusual fascination with explosive devices.

"He was living literally in the middle of nowhere, a substantial distance even to the nearest public road.

"He had nothing to do and no friends."

At the time of the explosion Dodds was out on licence from a three-an-a-half year sentence for stabbing a man in the back.

Mr Caulfield said Dodds, who lived with his parents at the farmhouse, realises the danger of his former hobby.

Mr Caulfield said: "Some might flippantly say he has had his fingers burnt."

Judge David Hodson jailed Dodds for seven years, telling him: "At first there was understandable concern which required an investigation whether you posed a terrorist threat to society at large.

"It is now accepted you are not a terrorist of any sort and what you did consisted of a number of a number of unsophisticated uncontrolled explosions on the farm which arose out of boredom and loneliness."