'Dad plot' explosives man Connor Ward jailed for Banff incident

Connor Ward told police he heard "voices in his head"

A man who admitted explosives charges after an incident which saw people evacuated from their homes in an Aberdeenshire town has been jailed.

Connor Ward, 20, of Banff, bore a grudge against his father, who had had a child with Ward's young ex-girlfriend.

Ward told police "voices in his head" were telling him to kill his father.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, judge Lord Uist jailed Ward for three years for the incident in May.

He also imposed a supervised release order.

Ward admitted a breach of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act by making threats, and possessing explosive substances in suspicious circumstances.

When police raided Ward's home they found an array of chemicals, together with recipes for making explosive devices.

Neighbours had to be moved from their homes while his flat was searched.

Lord Uist told Ward: "It is clear that you harbour a deep hatred for your father as you told the police that it was your intention to kill him, and also yourself, by means of a bomb.

"I have concluded that a custodial sentence is required because of the gravity of the explosive substance charge and the potential effect on the safety of the public.

"It is only because of your youth and absence of criminal history that the sentence is not longer than it is."

Grampian Police Det Insp Kevin Goldie, who led the investigation, said: "Today's outcome at the High Court should serve as a reminder to those intent on trying to harm our communities that such behaviour will not be tolerated."