A Burnham-On-Sea man will appear in court today (Monday, February 6th) to face several explosives charges following the discovery of a number of chemicals at his home which caused the evacuation of dozens of residents.
Philip Leonard, from Beatty Way, faces four charges of making explosive substances for an unlawful purpose between December 31st and January 21st and will appear at Taunton Crown Court.
The 36 year-old was remanded in custody after police and army bomb disposal experts raided his home on January 20th.
A number of chemicals were found at Mr Leonard’s home, causing many residents to be evacuated and a 100-metre exclusion zone to be put in place around Beatty Way.
Crispin Hayllar, defending, told a court that there was “nothing to suggest he was going to use them in a malicious way.”
Pictured: The scenes in Beatty Way during last month’s explosives raid
FURTHER COVERAGE OF THE BEATTY WAY INVESTIGATION:
Police praise goodwill of residents
Burnham resident charged after explosives raid
Evacuation centre praised by residents
Beatty Way cordon lifted by police
More photos of the police investigation in Beatty Way
Recycling collections delayed by police probe
Police confirm incident ‘was not terrorism related’
Video of the army bomb disposal team at the scene
