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| Animal rights fire-bomber jailed | Animal rights fire-bomber jailed |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| An animal rights activist who admitted conducting an arson campaign against people he believed had links to the vivisection industry has been jailed. | An animal rights activist who admitted conducting an arson campaign against people he believed had links to the vivisection industry has been jailed. |
| Donald Andrew Currie, 39, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty at Reading Crown Court in August to arson charges and to possessing fire bombs. | Donald Andrew Currie, 39, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty at Reading Crown Court in August to arson charges and to possessing fire bombs. |
| He was charged over incidents at homes in Berks and Bucks and at a firm in Somerset, between May 2005 and March. | He was charged over incidents at homes in Berks and Bucks and at a firm in Somerset, between May 2005 and March. |
| Currie was sentenced to 12 years, to be eligible for parole in six years. | Currie was sentenced to 12 years, to be eligible for parole in six years. |
| The jobless father-of-three was arrested in March after two homemade bombs, consisting of weed killer and sugar, were found by police underneath a car. | The jobless father-of-three was arrested in March after two homemade bombs, consisting of weed killer and sugar, were found by police underneath a car. |
| The vehicle was outside the Caversham home of a sales and marketing director for a courier firm understood to have dealings with clinical trials groups, an earlier hearing was told. | The vehicle was outside the Caversham home of a sales and marketing director for a courier firm understood to have dealings with clinical trials groups, an earlier hearing was told. |
| ALF link | ALF link |
| Currie admitted two counts of possessing an explosive substance with intent to endanger life and seriously damage property. | Currie admitted two counts of possessing an explosive substance with intent to endanger life and seriously damage property. |
| In relation to a bid to set the car on fire, Currie admitted attempted arson, but denied aggravated arson. | In relation to a bid to set the car on fire, Currie admitted attempted arson, but denied aggravated arson. |
| href="/1/hi/uk/6215144.stm" class="">Willing to maim in the name of animals | |
| Currie also admitted aggravated arson in relation to another attack in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, in September 2005, where an incendiary device caused a fire on the doorstep of the home of Paul and Joan Blackburn. | Currie also admitted aggravated arson in relation to another attack in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, in September 2005, where an incendiary device caused a fire on the doorstep of the home of Paul and Joan Blackburn. |
| He denied a fifth charge of aggravated arson in relation to a fire at a cardboard box firm in Williton, Somerset, in May 2005, which caused £140,000 damage. | He denied a fifth charge of aggravated arson in relation to a fire at a cardboard box firm in Williton, Somerset, in May 2005, which caused £140,000 damage. |
| Responsibility for all three incidents was claimed by the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) on its website, according to Thames Valley Police. | Responsibility for all three incidents was claimed by the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) on its website, according to Thames Valley Police. |
| The force said Currie targeted homes of individuals connected with Huntingdon Life Sciences on behalf of the ALF. | The force said Currie targeted homes of individuals connected with Huntingdon Life Sciences on behalf of the ALF. |
| Prosecutor John Price told the court Currie's pleas were acceptable to the Crown, as he had admitted the most serious offences. | Prosecutor John Price told the court Currie's pleas were acceptable to the Crown, as he had admitted the most serious offences. |