Apocalypse prepper cleared of bomb offence

A man who said he was preparing for a "post-apocalyptic scenario" has been cleared by jurors of trying to harm people with a homemade bomb.

More than 80 addresses were evacuated on 10 March after bomb disposal teams found a device at Ben Banham's home in Essex.

The father-of-two told Basildon Crown Court he only planned to use it "to protect his family home" in a disaster situation.

The 38-year-old, of Rokescroft in Pitsea near Basildon, was found not guilty of intending to endanger life or cause serious injury.

Earlier, the judge told the court he would accept a majority verdict, and eleven out of the 12 jurors found him not guilty.

He had already admitted a lesser charge of possessing gunpowder unlawfully and was remanded in custody ready to be sentenced for that on 19 November at the same court.

Police found a black cylindrical device, with a wick or fuse, as well as gunpowder and 1.8kg (4lb) in sulphur at Banham's three-bedroom family home.

Giving evidence during his two-week trial, he said he had "no intention of devising a device that could injure or harm anyone" but only envisaged using it "in a post-apocalyptic scenario where calling for outside help wasn't a possibility, and my family's life was in danger".

Banham said he never tested the device and his interest had "moved on" by the time his home was raided.

He also told jurors he learned how to make gunpowder after watching a video on YouTube.

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