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A firearms nerd was discovered with explosives in his flat - sparking a major alert that saw streets sealed off and school children ordered to stay indoors.

Phillip Stephen Davies, 30, and his then wife Carys Davies, 37, were yesterday spared jail after admitting making an explosive substance in April 2017 which was to be used to hunt rabbits.

The bomb squad was called out after unstable explosives were found in their former flat in Chapel Street, Wrexham .

Pyrotechnic powder mixed with ball bearings was discovered during a search - which were not safe to be stored or handled.

The explosives were taken away and buried two feet in the ground before being detonated.

Anna Price, prosecuting, told how police also found a number of weapons, which were legally held, except for one taser or stun gun.

It was accepted Davies, of Boston Gate, Wrexham, described in court as a "firearms nerd", deconstructed commercially available fireworks and made smaller explosive items to flush out rabbits while hunting.

His wife pleaded guilty on the basis she gave him with empty perfume bottles to make the items.

He received a suspended prison sentence and she received a conditional discharge.

Mold Crown Court Judge Niclas Parry said in the current climate of threats and fear there could be no tolerance for making any kind of explosive device.

(Image: Ryan Roberts)

He added: "There can be no tolerance of the possession or storage of any explosive device particularly in households close to where people and families live and quite rightly a most serious view was taken of this case."

The intended use was not lawful but Judge Parry said: "It does not amount to the kind of grave danger to the public that the legislation was aimed at."

It was accepted he meant no harm to any person or building.

There was also no suggestion the stun gun had been used to threaten anyone.

The pair changed their pleas after the jury had been sworn in for their trial.

(Image: Ryan Roberts)

The judge said Davies had the good sense to plead guilty but only when he had "seen the white of the eyes of the jury".

He had no previous convictions, and he had health problems and other issues, the court was told.

While such an offence always had to be marked with a custodial sentence he would receive a ten month prison sentence suspended for a year, with 30 days rehabilitation, the judge said.

Judge Parry told Mrs Davies, of Maes Meillion, Minera, her entire involvement was to hand over her empty perfume bottles to Mr Davies and as a result she would receive a 12 month conditional discharge.

The court heard how the items were found in a flat which was in a 'state of disarray' and an officer recognised the pyrotechnic devices.

(Image: Â© Andrew Price / View Finder Pi)

Interviewed, Davies said fireworks had been left over from his father's birthday party and he had intended to get rid of them in a river.

The couple had no previous convictions.

Oliver King, defending Mr Davies, said he was a gun nerd and the charge he had admitted under the 1883 explosives act sounded more serious than it actually was.

The charge covered a range of conduct including blowing up a shopping centre or a school.

"Nothing could be further from that here," he said.

(Image: Ryan Roberts)

He added the couple were now separated and he was living with his fiancee.

Henry Hills, for Mrs Davies, said she purchased the bottles on Amazon.

She was a decent person of good character who had a very difficult adult life and had four children from a previous abusive relationship, he added.

She now had a new partner and was engaged to be married.