'Nerdy' man made explosive devices in shed - court

Harry Whittaker has denied possessing and making explosive substances

A "nerdy" autistic heroin user who liked "doing science" has gone on trial charged with making explosive substances in his garden shed.

Harry Whittaker, 33, has denied two allegations of making explosive substances, and four of possessing explosive substances, at the Old Bailey in London.

The court heard in April 2024 paramedics were called to his home in Hyde Road, Caddington, near Luton, where he lives with his mother, after he went into anaphylactic shock.

Police were contacted in May after crews reported their concerns.

Police attended Harry Whittaker's address in Caddington, near Luton, in May 2024

The court heard Mr Whittaker, who admitted using heroin, took methadone and had been conducting experiments in two sheds in his mother's garden.

Prosecutor Emily Dummett told the jury that paramedics were called to the address when Mr Whittaker, who is autistic, suffered an allergic reaction and went into anaphylactic shock.

He told paramedics the illness could have been caused by his chemicals but also suggested that his mother's potpourri might have been to blame.

He showed ambulance crews a shed which he described as his laboratory, and said one of the windows had been broken in an explosion, the court heard.

Police were informed and explosive disposal experts were brought in to search the address.

Controlled explosions were carried out on white phosphorous - a mixture used in incendiary devices.

Blank ammunition, a syringe and a wrap of heroin were found in his bedroom, Ms Dummett said.

Radioactive substances were also discovered in the searches, along with an improvised explosive device in a drawer.

'All honest fun'

Ms Dummett said Mr Whittaker later told police he had been planning to detonate it on New Years Eve, but it had got damp, so he had stored it while it dried out.

The court heard how he had told officers he was trying to collect every element of the periodic table, he liked to have fun with pyrotechnics and was "astounded' to have been arrested.

He admitted to the police he had caused a fire while trying to make rocket fuel, but said it "was all just honest fun".

"I'm just a nerdy kid that likes doing science", he told police.

The case continues.