Farmer frustrated by Brexit kept cyanide to poison Remainers, court told

A FARMER with an interest in white supremacy kept cyanide in his refrigerator to kill “Remainers” after getting frustrated by Brexit, a court has heard.

Russell Wadge, 58, stored the poison next to cans of beer at his country home in Carmarthenshire. But the married father was arrested in June last year when counter terror police raided his property in the village of Trimsaran.

Police also found weapons, including grenades and mines, along with a book, How Terrorists Kill, and the ingredients for TATP – triacetone triperoxide – the same primary high explosive that was used in the Manchester Arena bombing.

Newport Crown Court heard that Mr Wadge also had an interest in white supremacy and the English Defence League, and had searched online for the Christchurch terror attack.

Tom Little QC, prosecuting, said while he was stockpiling the chemicals he was becoming “increasingly angry and frustrated with Brexit”. Mr Wadge denied claims he was plotting a terror attack against Remainers, insisting he simply had an interest in chemistry.

He told the court: “I have an interest in nerve agents – they are toxic, which is interesting. Explosives are interesting because they blow things up. It’s interesting.” He said he had not realised the law had changed in 2016 to ban people from owning cyanides – he had stored such chemicals for 25 years.

But Mr Little said: “We have a man who, of all the times, suddenly gets into purchasing chemicals – not just explosives but hydrogen cyanide, which has lethal toxicity – and researching nerve agents. Something was going on behind closed doors that he doesn’t want you to know about.”

When questioned by the police about his far-right internet searches, Mr Wadge said he did not believe in any extremism.

Paul Hynes QC, defending, said Mr Wadge was an “extraordinary enthusiast”. He said: “The prosecution say it’s about the B-word. That was the best they could do – it’s all about Brexit.” He said his client had no previous convictions except for those as a result of the raid on Baglan Farm. “Because he’s frustrated about Brexit he suddenly decides to synthesise hydrogen cyanide to attack Remainers and pick them off one by one by squirting them in the face and killing them?” he added.

Mr Wedge denies 28 charges of possessing explosive devices and chemical weapons. He admitted five charges of unlawful possession of poisonous chemicals without a licence.

The trial continues.