Briton’s sentence 18 years in terror case

LONDON — A judge sentenced a former Royal Marine to 18 years in prison Monday for a series of terrorism-related offenses.

Ciaran Maxwell, 31, lived a double life as a member of the military and as a bomb-maker for dissident Irish separatists. He pleaded guilty to preparation of terrorist acts between January 2011 and August 2016, possessing images of bank cards for fraud and possessing marijuana.

He stashed anti-personnel mines, mortar shells and 14 pipe bombs in 43 purpose-built hide-outs in Northern Ireland and England. Judge Nigel Sweeney said there was no doubt that the ultimate intent of those planting the devices was to kill.

Maxwell’s lawyer, Paul Hynes, told the court that his client was not ideologically driven and would not have used violence for a cause.