Restaurant blast man 'lacked cunning'

Published on Friday 21 November 2008 21:02

THE man who blew himself up while trying to kill diners in a restaurant is the least sophisticated person to be charged with terrorism, the Old Bailey heard yesterday.

Nicky Reilly, 22, "lacked cunning", despite making explosives and targeting the restaurant in Exeter, Devon, according to his barrister.

Kerim Fuad told the court that Reilly should be made the subject of an interim hospital order, which could have delayed his sentencing for at least 11 months.

But the application was rejected by Mr Justice Calvert-Smith, who put off sentencing to 30 January to allow reports from psychiatrists.

Mr Fuad had told him that doctors had expressed concerns about the mental state of Reilly, who suffers from Asperger's syndrome and has learning difficulties.

Mr Fuad said: "This defendant is not sophisticated in the slightest in any aspect of his life. He may well be the least cunning person ever to have come before this court for any offence of this magnitude, for terrorism."

Dozens of customers at the Giraffe restaurant in Exeter fled in panic when three soft drink bottles exploded in the toilets on 22 May.