Market Drayton man, 62, admits to making wine bottle petrol bombs
A Market Drayton man who allegedly threatened to set off petrol bombs and kill police officers has admitted making almost a dozen explosives found at his home.
Anthony Orwell sparked a dramatic stand-off with armed police officers and a police negotiator when the explosives were discovered.
At the time police said Orwell had threatened to ignite petrol close to where he lives in Market Drayton during the stand-off on September 8 last year.
Orwell, 62, of Victoria Wharf, admitted a single charge of making explosive substances involving petrol bombs, made with wine bottles and filled with petrol and two-stroke oil, with wicks fixed with adhesive tape.
He had been charged with making an explosive substance for unlawful purpose, under Section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act.
Orwell had denied the charge when he appeared at court in November, having previously been passed fit to stand trial after psychiatric tests. But he pleaded guilty to making 11 explosives when he appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday.
Judge Robin Onions adjourned sentence until April 24 for social inquiry and psychiatric reports and requested a risk assessment to determine if the defendant should be considered dangerous.
Orwell was remanded in custody.
