A 33-year-old man from Caddington, Bedfordshire, has been sentenced to 45 months in prison after police discovered he was manufacturing and storing explosive materials in a garden shed at his home.
Harry Whittaker was convicted at the Old Bailey in London of possessing and making explosive substances, following a guilty plea to the charges. The case came to light in April 2024 when Whittaker dialled emergency services after suffering a severe allergic reaction at his residence.
Paramedics who attended the scene were shown a makeshift laboratory in the garden shed by Whittaker, who explained he had been conducting chemical experiments. Alarmed by the materials on display, the medical team notified Bedfordshire Police.
Officers conducted a search and recovered a range of highly hazardous items from Whittaker’s bedroom and the shed. These included explosive compounds, ammunition, toxic chemicals, radioactive materials, and white phosphorus. The white phosphorus was so dangerous that it required specialist destruction by military personnel.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Simon Mayo KC told Whittaker: “Your conduct gave rise to a risk of harm to others. Although I cannot be sure you had the explosives for a violent purpose, you spoke about it and contemplated it.”
The court heard that investigators found extremist and racist content on Whittaker’s mobile phone, including violent threats directed at a mosque in Luton. Handwritten notes recovered from the property contained disturbing ideological statements and references to explosive manufacturing. A container labelled as “extremely explosive” featured antisemitic wording, which was presented as evidence.
Whittaker told police during interviews that his activities were purely scientific experiments and a hobby involving pyrotechnics and collecting chemical elements. He insisted he took precautions, described his work as “harmless fun,” and denied recklessness.
The court was informed that Whittaker has autism spectrum disorder, admitted to heroin use, and had a prior conviction for assault from an incident in 2019. He also pleaded guilty to additional offences under the Poisons Act and for possessing ammunition without a firearm certificate.
Crown Prosecution Service prosecutor Paul Goddard described Whittaker’s actions as endangering not only himself but also his family and neighbours. “Everyone deserves to feel safe in their local community,” Goddard said. “This case should serve as a warning about the serious consequences of acquiring and experimenting with dangerous materials without proper safeguards.”
The judge imposed a 45-month custodial sentence, and Whittaker was taken into custody immediately following the hearing at the Old Bailey in central London.
Bedfordshire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service have not released further details about any ongoing investigations related to the case.
