Ex-Marine faces jail over explosives found in flat

A FORMER Royal Marine Commando who had a pipe bomb in his flat and equipment to make nine more was behind bars last night.

Allan Peach stored the improvised explosive device (IED) in a safe at his home in Dundee.

His block of flats had to be evacuated as Army bomb disposal experts were called in.

In addition, 19 cans of CS gas were found, which Peach had been selling for up to £90 each.

The 30 year-old later told police: ‘I’m not a bad man. I’m just trying to make ends meet.’

Yesterday, Peach appeared at the High Court in Glasgow. He pleaded guilty to possessing an IED and materials with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury. He also admitted a further charge of having a quantity of CS spray.

Peach, pictured, was previously jailed for three years in 2012 after causing a blast when he stuffed a hair gel tub with explosives in Dundee. He now faces another jail term when he is sentenced later this month.

When police raided his home last September, they initially discovered a box containing cans of CS gas. Peach went on to hand over a set of keys for a safe.

Prosecutor Bill McVicar said: ‘On opening it, police observed what appeared to be an IED. It had been manufactured from a copper pipe with end caps attached and a fuse at one end.’

Nearby homes were evacuated and a 100-yard exclusion zone was set up while the device was made safe.

A mixture of powders inside indicated the bomb had not been well made.

Mr McVicar said: ‘It is unlikely the IED would function as expected.’

But he added that Peach had ‘sufficient material to make a further nine pipe bombs’. He told the court: ‘It is possible even such poorly made low explosives could have functioned either partially or entirely.’

Judge Lord Clark remanded Peach in custody and deferred sentence for reports.