A man has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison after his former partner feared he had booby-trapped her home with explosives, leading to the evacuation of neighbouring properties in Abergwynfi, Neath Port Talbot.
Court details
Maximin Carter, 51, appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Monday via videolink from HMP Swansea. He pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a prohibited weapon and six offences of possession of an offensive weapon in a private place.
The court heard that Carter’s ex-partner contacted police on Valentine’s Day with concerns about weapons in her home, including plastic bottles filled with polystyrene that she believed could be bombs. Carter had been residing at the address without permission and was in breach of a non-molestation order.
Weapons found
Military specialists were called in, and a major incident was declared. Neighbouring properties were evacuated, with residents taking shelter in the local miners’ hall. Although no explosives were found, officers recovered a substantial amount of ammunition, an air rifle, four telescopic truncheons, a ninja sword, and a knuckleduster.
Prosecutor Hannah George described the property as being “strewn with various objects” and in a mess, with the ex-partner stating it “looked like booby traps had been set up.”
Previous convictions
Carter has one previous conviction for possession of cannabis in 1998 and a caution for possession of an offensive weapon in 2009. In his police interview, he initially admitted owning the items but later answered “no comment” to further questions.
With a discount for his guilty pleas, Carter was sentenced to five and a half years in prison. He will serve 40% of the term in custody and the remainder on licence.
Police response
Following the sentencing, Sergeant Kristian Burt of South Wales Police thanked residents for their cooperation and understanding during the investigation. He said: “This incident in February will have rightfully caused a great deal of concern to the people of Abergwynfi who would not have been sure whether their homes were safe due to the nature of the weapons that Maximin Carter had been amassing. They can be assured that Abergwynfi is much safer now that these weapons have been seized.”
