'Jim'll fix it' fan accidentally blew up home lab in Sharnbrook after 'becoming upset' by Manchester Arena attack, court told
Matthew Haydon suffered wounds to his chest and hands when he allegedly caused an explosion at the four-bedroom property in the Bedfordshire village of Sharnbrook in April 10 last year
A explosives-obsessed man was injured in a blast at his family home after once requesting to throw a grenade on Jim'll Fix It, a court has heard.
Matthew Haydon suffered wounds to his chest and hands when he allegedly caused an explosion at the four-bedroom property in the Bedfordshire village of Sharnbrook in April 10 last year.
Afterwards, the 48-year-old told police of a longstanding interest in weaponry, citing his request to the former BBC children's show Jim'll Fix It.
He said he had been "researching" explosives after being affected by what had happened at an Ariana Grande concert, in an apparent reference to the Manchester Arena suicide bombing.
Opening his Old Bailey trial on Wednesday, prosecutor Margia Mostafa said the defendant had lived with his mother at the family home of 45 years.
His mother, who had been away for the weekend, returned home on April 10 2023 and heard a loud bang from Haydon's home laboratory, jurors heard.
Haydon was shouting "Help me, help me", having suffered burns and bleeding.
The court was told that Haydon's mother put him in the shower to relieve the burns and bleeding and called 999.
Neighbours also heard a loud thudding boom, felt their house shake and saw that the defendant's window had smashed, jurors were told.
After being treated in hospital, Haydon was interviewed by police and admitted causing the explosion, the court heard.
He said: "I don't believe it was malicious. It was an accident. It wasn't an intended detonation."
He said he had always been "obsessed with all kinds of weaponry, explosives in particular".
"I think I wrote off to Jim'll Fix It to ask if I could throw a hand grenade," he said.
He told officers he was "researching about explosives" because of "what happened at the Ariana Grande concert".
He said it had affected him "quite badly", adding: "It upset me, yeah."
The defendant also told police he had issues related to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Police searched the defendant's home laboratory and seized chemicals, equipment, electronic devices, and handwritten notes, jurors heard.
On his laptop were instructions for explosives and there was evidence that he had bought chemicals online, the court was told.
Jurors were shown footage of the defendant carrying out various experiments with explosives which were found on a camera.
In one video, Haydon was heard commenting on a passing dog walker before detonating a device strapped to a tree.
A few days before the blast in his house, Haydon had allegedly messaged a contact about an incident in which his "life flashed in front" of him.
He allegedly wrote: "I was making a liquid expl & still developing best practice etc and put a wee tad too much sulphuric acid in to fast and it erupted to the ceiling in flames!!! .... Sum1 upder is looking after me man I swear!!! (sic)"
Samples of chemicals seized from the house were found to include sensitive high explosives triacetone triperoxide (TATP) and hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (HMTD).
Damage to Haydon's T-shirt and an orange glove he had been wearing showed he had been in "close proximity" to the explosion, the court heard.
Chemical analysis of samples taken from the clothing indicated that HMTD was the explosive charge, jurors were told.
Ms Mostafa said: "The prosecution say that, on 10 April 2023, he caused by an improvised explosive device an explosion of a nature likely to endanger life - including his own - or cause serious damage to property."
She said the defendant accepted he had mixed chemicals which caused an explosion but disputed that the level of explosive used was sufficient to endanger life or property.
Haydon, of Loring Road, Sharnbrook, denies a single charge of causing an explosion likely to endanger life or property last April 10.
The trial continues.