Teen guilty of pipe bombing (From This is Hampshire)

Chander's Ford teenager guilty of pipe bombing neighbour's car

12:00pm Thursday 28th October 2010 in News By John Hoskins, Court Reporter

A TEENAGER who blew up a car with a homemade bomb was remanded in custody for a psychiatric assessment and probation reports.

Judge Peter Ralls QC said after watching Robert White give evidence, he did not think the 19-year-old realised the seriousness of what he had done.

Jurors took four hours to reach their unanimous conclusion.

White showed no emotion or reaction when the verdict was announced.

White had been drinking with a pal in an Eastleigh pub, when he persuaded him to make a diversion on his way to Southampton to go to Chadwick Road in Eastleigh, where his uncle and aunt lived.

Southampton Crown Court heard relations between John and Jacqueline Hallett and nextdoor neighbour Sean Konczak were not good and White decided to teach him a lesson.

As his friend sat in the car, White ran round the corner with the pipe bomb he had concealed under a passenger seat.

He ran back a few minutes later and after they had driven away, a huge explosion rocked the area. Its force not only wrecked the Vauxhall Vectra parked on the victim’s drive but also sent debris and shrapnel flying 100ft.

White claimed he had been the victim of “a massive conspiracy”

and prosecution witnesses had collaborated to make up their evidence.

He claimed he had been dropped off outside an Eastleigh surgery and assumed his friend was responsible.

However, he was unable to explain incriminating scientific evidence the bomb had been manufactured with a metal press found at his home in Truro Rise, Eastleigh.

The teenager, who denied causing an explosion and endangering life or causing serious damage to property, will be sentenced next month.

After the case, police spokesman Paul Stenton said: “Thankfully no-one was injured. The explosion caused considerable damage and the reaction from the community was understandably that of fear and concern. This kind of incident is incredibly unusual.

It was through the complex investigation conducted by the Serious and Organised Crime unit of Hampshire Police that White was identified.

“I hope that now this young man has been brought to justice, it will bring comfort to those affected by his actions.”