A HAMPSHIRE man who assembled a homemade bomb which was thrown at the home of a vulnerable mum and her two children as they sat inside watching television has been jailed for three years.

Christopher Brown wept in the dock as he was handed his prison sentence for his part in a frightening plot to target Sonia Gibbs, with an explosive device that had the potential to kill.

It was only thanks to the vigilance of a member of the public who contacted police after she overheard him talking about the plot and how he would have to be careful because people might think he was a “terrorist”, that officers were able to track him down so quickly.

Southampton Crown Court heard that Brown, who was 18 at the time of the attack, was part of a conspiracy to target the home of Ms Gibbs', who had been a victim of a “campaign of terror” as a result of problems with her ex-boyfriend.

However, a “veil of silence” about who he conspired with has seen no others prosecuted for the attack on her first floor flat, in Britannic House, Kent Street, Northam, on December 5, 2012.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daily Echo: Britannic House.

The court was told Brown, of Cranbury Place, Southampton, bought all the equipment to make the incendiary device, had built it and while it is not clear whether he threw the device, he was there when it was thrown.

Fortunately the device did not go off, but when it hit Ms Gibbs' window, it made a “massive bang” which set off panic alarms that had already been installed to help protect her and her family.

Daily Echo: The device after it was thrown.

Police rushed to the scene and found a cylinder-shaped item wrapped in foil and smelling of gas on the balcony, which experts later revealed could have caused a “fire ball” if it had exploded.

Brown was soon identified thanks to Jane Rickett, who had contacted police earlier that day following a conversation she overheard on a bus.

She took notes and even stopped the bus driver to ensure the CCTV from the bus was saved, helping to lead police straight to their man.

Using CCTV they were able to track his movements and prove he bought the equipment for the device, a sketch plan of the bomb was found at his home and his fingers prints were found on the device.

Brown denied the charge of conspiracy to commit arson, but a jury convicted him.

In her victim impact statement, Ms Gibbs said the incident had traumatised her family, forcing them to move out of the county.

In mitigation, Jeremy Barton said Brown was of previous good character and had several issues which meant he was vulnerable to being manipulated and persuaded by others.

Sentencing Brown to three years, Judge Peter Henry said he accepted the 21-year-old had not dreamt up the plan or been part of any previous attacks, but that he had played an “active part” and if the device had gone off, it would have been a “blow torch-effect”.

Judge Henry also commended Jane Rickett for her vigilance, which was echoed by Detective Sergeant Matt Parker.

DS Parker added: “This is someone who set out on a campaign of terror on someone using an incendiary device which had the potential to cause serious damage, injury or even death.

“Mrs Rickett had the moral responsibility to identify the conversation she felt was important and contact us. Thanks to this we were able to identify the suspect quickly.”