Grimoldby man given suspended jail sentence after modifying alarm mine to deter burglars

William Jenkins, 40, set up a trip wire and added his own load of everyday items to the cartridge of the lawful device after a spate of break-ins in his village.

He also angled a metal kicker plate so the contents could potentially be discharged at the legs of any intruder, a court was told.

Police found the device in Jenkins’ rear garden after they were alerted to his ‘erratic behaviour’ and he was arrested by firearms officers.

Lincoln Crown Court heard the alarm mine could be lawfully purchased by members of the public to deter intruders.

But Daren Samat, prosecuting, said Jenkins had attached a trip wire to the mine and replaced the contents of its cartridge with his own mix of items including peppercorns, wire wool, pellets, cayenne pepper and an irritant powder.

The words ‘F*** You’ were also written on a metal kicker plate which was capable of discharging the load upwards, Mr Samat told the court.

Jenkins claimed it wasn’t his intention to injure anyone but a police expert who examined the device said it was capable of discharging at the legs of someone who triggered the trip wire.

Mr Samat said there was potential for anyone hit by the device to be injured but the intention did not appear to be to cause significant injury.

“The rear of the garden was not secure so anyone could have walked in from the fields behind, not just a burglar or intruder,” Mr Samat explained.

“Fortunately no one was injured by this.”

The court was told Jenkins had made “concerning” comments both on social media and in a chat with a neighbour, and exaggerated his own military career.

Mr Samat added: “He was in the officer training corps rather than having a full military role.”

An air pistol for which Jenkins did not have a firearms certificate was also found in a safe in his home.

Neil Sands, mitigating, told the court Jenkins was a 40-year-old man without any previous convictions.

“He has devoted much of his life to public service, and challenging public service, both in the prison service and in his teaching career,” Mr Sands said.

A pre-sentence report on Jenkins highlighted problems during his school years and his suffering from anxiety and depression.

Passing sentence Judge Simon Hirst told Jenkins he fully understood his concern over the break-ins, but added that his actions had put others at risk, including children who could have entered his garden.

“In the area where you live there appears to have been a spate of break-ins,” Judge Hirst said.

“Your response was to fit a knee level alarm which can be lawfully purchased by members of the public.

“You amended and modified that cartridge, taking out the load and replacing it with your own.

“You angled a metal plate which could discharge this upwards, saying ‘F*** you.’”

The judge explained the primary offence to which Jenkins pleaded guilty had a maximum prison sentence of just two years, and added that combined with his previous good character he would not impose an immediate jail term.

Jenkins, of Tinkle Lane, Grimoldby, pleaded guilty to making an explosive substance with intent and possessing a firearm without a certificate following his arrest on December 27 last year.

He was sentenced to eight months imprisonment suspended for two years and must also complete 150 hours of community punishment and 30 rehabilitation days.