Ryan McGee (pictured outside court today) made a nail bomb in his bedroom packed with deadly shrapnel

A young Rifleman who was obsessed with extreme right politics has been jailed for two years for making a viable nail bomb packed with deadly shrapnel in his bedroom.

Police also found a journal at Ryan McGee's home containing racist comments about 'millions of immigrants flooding the streets of Europe' and a vow 'to drag every last immigrant into the fires of hell with me'.

Officers discovered the bomb when they raided his three-bedroom family home in Eccles, near Manchester, on an unrelated matter last November.

McGee was obsessed with the English Defence League but was not a member and had also watched a horrific video of men being bound and executed under a swastika flag.

The 20-year-old loner had previously admitted buying the Anarchist Cookbook and making the nail bomb and was sentenced today at the OId Bailey.

The book, first published in 1971, contains instructions for the manufacture of explosives, illicit drugs including LSD and detailed advice concerning electronics, sabotage and surveillance.

Opening the facts of the case, prosecutor Roger Smart said: 'This case involves a young man, a serving soldier, who hand-made a viable bomb in the bedroom of his childhood home in Eccles, Manchester.

'He surfed the internet, he bought supplies, and he watched videos and read books about how to make explosive devices.'

At the time he was arrested, he was serving with Bravo Company of the 5th Battalion the Rifles before being deployed to barracks in Germany. He lived in Eccles with his mother and two older brothers.

Photos of his bedroom showed he had a 'keen interest in the English Defence League', the lawyer said.

Although he displayed the group's 'No Surrender' insignia flag and an EDL T-shirt and jumper and had attended a march, it was accepted he never joined the group.

The defendant admitted an interest in fireworks and explosives but 'the haul of imitation firearms ammunition and IED (improvised explosive device) components suggests a preoccupation that goes far beyond any amateur enthusiast's collection', Mr Smart said.

Ryan McGee, pictured posing in a Ku Klux Klan outfit, who was a keen supporter of extreme right political groups, has been jailed for two years

Ryan McGee's home-made device (pictured) contained 181 metal screws and bits of glass which were designed to 'maximise wounding capability' when it was set off

In a journal, McGee (pictured left in a police mugshot and right in front of an EDL flag) wrote about 'millions of immigrants flooding the streets of Europe'

He also had an obsession with real-life events on YouTube and the internet, including footage of two bound and gagged men beneath a swastika flag, one being beheaded and the other executed by a gunshot to the head.

The court heard McGee's childhood home was searched by Greater Manchester Police in an unconnected investigation on November 28 last year.

But when an officer uncovered a 'suspicious device' in a bedroom, bomb disposal experts were called in and counter-terrorism police launched an investigation.

McGee has admitted that between May 31 2013 and November 29 2013 at Salford in Greater Manchester he possessed a document containing information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.

He has also pleaded guilty to a second charge that between September 1 2013 and September 3 2013 at Salford he made an explosive device.

The 20-year-old loner had previously admitted buying the Anarchist Cookbook and making the nail bomb and was sentenced today at the OId Bailey

Ryan McGee, pictured here in a black English Defence League hoodie, brought the armed forces into 'disrepute', a judge said

The court heard McGee kept a journal entitled Ryan's Story Book with stickers of Scooby Doo and birds on the front filled with drawings of guns, machetes, knuckledusters and knives and images of several paramilitary soldiers.

In the book he wrote about 'millions of immigrants flooding the streets of Europe' and said 'I vow to drag every last immigrant into the fires of hell with me'.

It also contained references to right-wing groups such as the National Front, KKK and BNP, the court heard.

RAMBLINGS OF A 'LONER': THE DISTURBING CONTENTS OF MCGEE'S DIARY It went by the seemingly innocent title of 'Ryan's Story Book' with a front cover featuring child-like stickers of Scooby Doo and birds. But it was what Ryan McGee had written inside the journal that revealed the 20-year-old's dark side. When investigators found the book, they discovered pages of drawings of weapons including guns, machetes, knuckledusters and knives and images of several paramilitary soldiers. One picture in McGee's journal featured a picture of a soldier with a St George's cross (left) instead of a face brandishing a rifle while another was of an armed man along with the caption 'Win the firefight' (right) At one point in the diary, he wrote about 'millions of immigrants flooding the streets of Europe' and said 'I vow to drag every last immigrant into the fires of hell with me'. The journal also revealed his obsession with right-wing groups, such as the National Front, KKK and BNP. One page featured a picture of a soldier with a St George's cross instead of a face brandishing a rifle, knife and two grenades, standing in front of a housing estate named 'Freedom St'. Books discovered at the scene, included the US Army Improvised Munitions Handbook, US Army Guerrilla Warfare Handbook and The Turner Diary, a controversial and racist book about a violent revolution in America which leads to the extermination of 'impure' people. Advertisement

Among his collection of books was the US Army Improvised Munitions Handbook, US Army Guerrilla Warfare Handbook and The Turner Diary, a controversial and racist book about a violent revolution in America which leads to the extermination of 'impure' people.

Officers also found a cache of potentially lethal chemicals.

In his diary, there was a picture of a soldier with a St George's cross instead of a face brandishing a rifle, knife and two grenades, standing in front of a housing estate named 'Freedom St'.

McGee also had diagrams and instructions for explosive devices, booby traps and sketches of traps and a ball-bearing bomb.

The court heard the home of McGee, pictured in a KKK outfit, was searched by Greater Manchester Police in an unconnected investigation on November 28 last year

When an officer uncovered a 'suspicious device' in McGee's bedroom, bomb disposal experts were called in and counter-terrorism police launched an investigation

He previously admitted that he 'likes gore' and is fascinated by extremist videos, his internet search history included graphic, violent videos and racist footage.

He downloaded a number of extreme videos and his laptop had links to websites including gore videos, French Skinheads, Russian Racism, Handguns for sale UK and Germany, and YouTube videos of EDL marches against Muslims and Nazi youth.

The prosecutor accepted he was not a terrorist or intended to help a terrorist group.

Defending, Antony Chinn QC said McGee had been an immature teenager at the time, as demonstrated by the Scooby Doo notebook.

He said: 'Although he accepts he made the device he never intended to put it to any violent purpose.'

Components of a homemade nail bomb were found in Eccles soldier Ryan McGee's home

Police officers also found a cache of potentially lethal chemicals when they raided his home

McGee, a fifth generation Army man, was 'a bit of a loner' who was brought up with far-right views, he said, adding that McGee was not a racist and that his 'two best friends' in the army were from a 'different ethnic background'.

'One is Ghanian and from a different church,' he added. 'His future at the army will be at an end as a result of his pleas.

'The army have been good enough to support him while on bail with the condition that he reside at the barracks with a curfew. They have given him considerable support.'

MCGEE’S VILE RACIST RANTS PRAISING NAZI DICTATOR ADOLF HITLER Bomb-making soldier Ryan McGee posted horrific racist rants on Facebook Bomb-making soldier Ryan McGee posted horrific racist rants on Facebook, appearing to call for violent action to be taken against immigrants. In one sickening post, he even suggested Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler was Europe's 'best immigration officer'. Writing on the BNP's Facebook page, he said: 'American, Irish, you make out Nazism (sic) is so bad but in my opinion Hitler was the best immigration officer Europe ever seen and he didnt take no s*** and let them all in he took action!' In some posts he even asked other people to join him in doing something about it - but he did not appear to single out a particular section of society. He 'liked' the EDL, the BNP and its leader Nick Griffin, and serial killer Raoul Moat on his own Facebook page. Other posts included one saying 'We don't need the European Union and we don't need Europeans.' McGee also posted several pictures of himself in EDL clothing and stood next to EDL flags. One image even showed him dressed in a Ku Klux Klan costume next to a Confederate flag - which is widely regarded as a pro-slavery symbol. The images were removed shortly after his arrest. Advertisement

Mr Chinn claimed that the defendant is not a terrorist and had no intention of detonating the bomb.

He described McGee's fascination for watching sickening videos of extreme violence as 'war porn'.

But Judge Brian Barker, the Recorder of London, told the court it was an 'unusual and worrying case' in particular because of the violent drawings and extreme observations of the defendant, who he said, had brought the Armed Forces into 'disrepute'.

The court heared how McGee 'surfed the internet, he bought supplies, and he watched videos and read books about how to make explosive devices'

He told the court: 'What particularly concerns the court is the volume of drawings and extreme observations that were produced in the few years before you joined the army.

'The essence of these matters is that you made a viable bomb in your bedroom, you surfed the internet making as many enquiries as you could, bought supplies, watched videos and read books on how to make explosive devices.

'Any explosive device in the wrong hands could cause untold misery and suffering to anyone on the receiving end.'

The Judge said it was 'difficult to recognise' the 'two aspects' of McGee's character - with both his role in the army and the bomb he was assembling in his bedroom.

'Sadly we live in a violent age and it must be quite clear that any experimentation by anybody of these types of weapons will lead to a severe sentence,' he added.

Police found a flag with the letters EDL along with a cache of weapons in Ryan McGee's bedroom

'I treat your case as an exception and recognise your problems and your attempt to deal with them.

'You have made an effort to face up to reality. I accept these items were not going to be used for any violent or terrorist purposes. This was a phase you have gone through and hopefully come out of the other side.

'Your right-wing views have been moderated considerably. The reality is you have lost everything you aspired to.'

Judge Barker said McGee's 'ideology' included an interest in torture, support for the English Defence League, firearms and ammunition.

Wearing a black suit, white shirt and black tie, the defendant showed no emotion as the sentence was passed.

He sentenced McGee to 12 months in jail for a charge of possessing a document containing information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism between May 31 2013 and November 29 2013 at Salford in Greater Manchester.

McGee was further jailed for 24 months for a second charge that between September 1 2013 and September 3 2013 at Salford he made an explosive device.

The sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

How the homemade bomb made by 'self-radicalised' Ryan McGee could have 'killed or maimed'

Ryan McGee's bomb could have been lethal if connected to a simple battery and detonated with a mobile phone, police revealed.

Officers found an array of firearms, axes and knives hidden under a chest of drawers as well as several explosive devices he was experimenting with in his family home in Eccles.

Speaking at Greater Manchester Police’s force headquarters Det Super Simon Barraclough, from the North West Counter Terrorism Unit said if used the device could have ‘killed or maimed’.

Police also uncovered an electric booby trap device during their search of the home

Weapons including axes, firearms and knives were discovered by police when they raided Ryan McGee's home

Pictures of McGee wearing an EDL hoodie along with video of a beheading in front of a Nazi flag apparently filmed in an Eastern European forest were found on his computer.

A hand-written journal detailing his extremist right-wing views was also discovered in the home he shared with his mother and two brothers.

When the search warrant was executed McGee was in Germany serving in Paderborn.

McGee was taken into military custody and flown back to the UK where he was arrested on arrival at Heathrow Airport on December 2.

He was then taken to a police station in Manchester where he was interviewed about the terror guide.

McGee admitted possessing all of the items and told police he had become interested in right-wing groups when he was 14 years old.

Ryan McGee's chilling cache of equipment even included this pressure plate

Police said that although he is not an EDL member he had attended a march with the right-wing group in Manchester last year.

McGee admitted possessing explosives and possessing a document containing information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism

Det Super Barraclough said: ‘Everything about this lad suggests that, although he is a soldier, he is a bit of an inadequate.

‘He is not the sort of individual you would imagine being a war hero in Afghanistan.

‘You have a lad who is not the best soldier you will ever come across and definitely not a good advert for the army.’

He continued: ‘There appears to be a degree of self-radicalisation. This chap appears to have done it on his own without a great deal of assistance.’

The officer added: ‘He has admitted creating this device and he has admitted his interest in extreme right-wing organisations.

‘He said he has been experimenting with these sorts of devices and he has a clear fixation with weapons and explosives and that is what has drawn him to the military.’

Police descended on the home of Ryan McGee in Eccles, Manchester in late November last year

Among the items found by police were improvised booby traps, including a pressure plate designed to be stepped on after being placed under the soil.

Two handguns were discovered in his arsenal of weapons, although they were not capable of being fired.

There was significant evidence that McGee had been experimenting with explosives for about a year.

An analysis of his computer equipment revealed the soldier’s association with far-right groups including the EDL.

Police found a large amount of extreme right wing and white supremacist material.

He had searched the internet for EDL fights, right-wing extremism, racism and the BNP.

Shortly before his arrest he had been searching hand guns for sale in the UK and Germany and how to make detonators.

There was no evidence that he had any firm plans to explode his home made nail bomb or that he had any specific targets, but McGee had leave coming up at Christmas.

An army bomb disposal robot (left) was brought to the property when the bomb was discovered

Scientists analysing the device said it ‘would cause serious injury to persons within close proximity

WHAT POLICE FOUND DURING RAID A viable nail bomb containing 181 metal screws Axes and knives Potentially lethal chemicals Improvised booby traps A pressure plate designed to be stepped on after being placed under the soil Two handguns Journal containing racist remarks and drawings of weapons US Army Improvised Munitions Handbook US Army Guerrilla Warfare Handbook The Turner Diary, (a controversial and racist book about a violent revolution in America which leads to the extermination of 'impure' people. Advertisement

Police said the device was viable had it been connected to an electric current to detonate it.

Scientists analysing the device said it ‘would cause serious injury to persons within close proximity’.

Det Super Barraclough said: ‘Effectively that device could be used and would, if it had been used, cause serious injury or possibly death.’

When he was arrested and interviewed McGee said he had been interested in the far right since he was at school.

‘He had never been happy about people from overseas taking British jobs. That is why he became interested in the far right cause,’ detectives said.

McGee also told officers he had received training in the military and described his explosive making as ‘homework’, although the army said they give no instruction on homemade devices.

McGee had joined the army in January 2012 and undergone basic training before being posted to Germany.

Investigators considered whether he had been part of a wider network in the military, but there was no indication anyone else had been involved and no one else has been charged in connection with the offences.

Police said the device was viable had it been connected to an electric current to detonate it

Police said the revelations came as a complete shock to army top brass.

Colleagues described McGee as ‘fairly quiet’ and ‘quite social’ and he had no previous disciplinary issues.

‘It mirrors to some extent what we are seeing from the Islamic fundamentalist point of view from the other end of the spectrum,’ said Det Super Barraclough.

‘He has effectively self-radicalised himself and he has done that through the internet through his own devices rather than working with others.’

He added: ‘The point I would like to make is that clearly this young man has stepped way over the mark of what is acceptable and he will go to prison for that.’

Last night the Ministry of Defence refused to comment on McGee but said it did not monitor soldiers’ Facebook pages and had no plans to change the policy.