Former Marine set off home-made bomb at Dundee block of flats

Published on 12/10/2012 16:19

A former Royal Marine caused a blast at a block of flats using a hair gel tub stuffed with explosives, a court heard.

• Former Royal Marine Allan Peach admitted to setting off two home-made devices at a block of flats in Dundee in June this year

• No one was injured in the incidents but police described his actions as “horrendous”

• Peach has been remanded in custody until sentencing next month

Allan Peach detonated the home-made bomb at a tenement in Dundee, blowing a number of doors of their hinges.

Peach set off another device earlier that evening, but no one was injured during either incident.

The 24-year-old appeared at the High Court in Glasgow where he admitted culpably and recklessly causing explosions to the risk of others.

First offender Peach – believed latterly to have worked as an electrical contractor at RAF Leuchars – was remanded in custody to be sentenced next month.

Police described his actions as “horrendous”.

The court heard the blasts occurred in Dundee on 7 June this year.

Prosecutor Paul Kearney told how Peach had earlier bought several 1kg bags of explosive substances online.

These were potassium nitrate as well as aluminium and sulphur powders.

Mr Kearney added: “It had been established that he was actively seeking information on how to manufacture explosive devices.”

Around 9pm that evening, Peach randomly threw the first of his bombs into the garden area of a block of flats in Cullen Place, Dundee.

Witnesses described hearing “a loud bang”, but no one was in the vicinity.

Mr Kearney said Peach then constructed another improvised device after getting his hands on a hair gel tub, which he cleaned out and filled with powder.

He drilled a hole into the lid and placed a fuse wire into the contents.

The court heard Peach then went to another tenement in Cullen Place and was allowed entry by a resident.

A man was later heading home when he heard an explosion followed by the sound of smashing glass.

Mr Kearney said: “The force blew open the front doors of the properties on the ground and upper floor of the block.

“As a result, all the residents left their homes.”

A number of people dialled 999 and fire crews later discovered a plastic container wrapped in brown tape within the scorch-marked building.

A large-scale police probe into the blasts led detectives to Peach after being alerted he had knowledge of the incidents.

His van was searched and a hard drive and a mobile phone were seized.

The court heard these revealed “evidence of bomb making activities” and “tutorials” in how to construct devices.

Peach’s lawyer Matthew Jackson, said the offence was “unusual”.

Judge Lady Stacey remanded Peach in custody and deferred sentencing until next month for reports.