A man who had a stash of explosives in his house because "he enjoyed making fireworks" has been branded "an accident waiting to happen" by a sheriff.
Lee-Jay Newman stored jars of chemicals in the attic of his home in Dumbryden Gardens, Edinburgh and made explosives which he would set off in open areas.
He was caught when the new owner of a second-hand computer from Cash Converters found a video of the explosives being set off. Police also found lists of powders and chemicals on the hard drive.
At Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday, the 34-year-old was ordered to carry out 200 hours of community service.
He had previously pleaded guilty to possessing potassium nitrate, potassium permanganate, sulphur, carbon, charcoal magnesium, zinc, thermite and devices such as pyrotechnic units, fuses, cables and trigger devices, which were capable of causing an explosion.
He also pleaded guilty to using the substances and devices to making explosives which he then set off between May 3 and June 30 last year.
Sheriff Kenneth Maciver told Newman he had been "foolish".
He said: "You will be aware, of course, that we live in a dangerous age with constant vigilance by security forces and police because of the ever-present risk of people causing harm to others, particularly by the use of explosives.
"These are the type of images we all see from other parts of the world."
He told Newman he had "stupidly and foolishly entered an area of pyrotechnics in which he had an interest and a deal of expertise".
The sheriff added: "You were an accident waiting to happen."
Defence agent Rhoda McLeod told the court Newman had had a love of fireworks since he was a child. He also suffered from anxiety and depression and the case had heightened these problems and led to panic attacks.
At a previous hearing, fiscal depute Isabel Clarke said various substances were found in jars in the attic of Newman’s flat. Specialist officers said there was no immediate risk of an explosion.
When he was interviewed, Newman told officers he would set off rockets and smoke bombs with friends in Lanark Road and Colinton Dell.
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