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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Appeal dropped on bomber sentence | Appeal dropped on bomber sentence |
| (1 day later) | |
| An Islamic convert who tried to blow up an Exeter restaurant has abandoned plans to appeal against his sentence. | An Islamic convert who tried to blow up an Exeter restaurant has abandoned plans to appeal against his sentence. |
| Nicky Reilly, from Plymouth, was given 18 years in prison for the attempted attack on The Giraffe in May 2008. | Nicky Reilly, from Plymouth, was given 18 years in prison for the attempted attack on The Giraffe in May 2008. |
| Reilly's family claimed his autism made him vulnerable, he was radicalised by Islamic militants, and that the judge showed him little mercy. | Reilly's family claimed his autism made him vulnerable, he was radicalised by Islamic militants, and that the judge showed him little mercy. |
| But now they have abandoned an appeal, fearing a new hearing could lead to him being given a longer sentence. | But now they have abandoned an appeal, fearing a new hearing could lead to him being given a longer sentence. |
| Reilly was the only person injured by his bomb | Reilly was the only person injured by his bomb |
| Reilly, 22, is currently in Broadmoor high security psychiatric hospital, where he is being assessed to determine whether he should serve his sentence in a hospital or prison. | Reilly, 22, is currently in Broadmoor high security psychiatric hospital, where he is being assessed to determine whether he should serve his sentence in a hospital or prison. |
| Reilly pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to attempting to detonate bombs in plastic bottles that were also filled with about 500 nails. | Reilly pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to attempting to detonate bombs in plastic bottles that were also filled with about 500 nails. |
| He was the only person injured in the incident when a bomb went off in his hands in a toilet cubicle as he prepared for the attack. Dozens of customers then fled in panic. | He was the only person injured in the incident when a bomb went off in his hands in a toilet cubicle as he prepared for the attack. Dozens of customers then fled in panic. |
| Anna Middleton, a waitress at the Giraffe, told BBC News how she served the would-be bomber. | |
| He had seemed so quiet and shy Waitress Anna Middleton | |
| She said: "It was quite a normal day. Nicky Reilly turned up about an hour after I started work. | She said: "It was quite a normal day. Nicky Reilly turned up about an hour after I started work. |
| "He just wanted to have a Coke and sit at the bar. | "He just wanted to have a Coke and sit at the bar. |
| "I served him his drink and he paid and then I went back outside." | "I served him his drink and he paid and then I went back outside." |
| Reilly had been preparing the attack when a bomb went off in his hands in the restaurant's toilet - he was the only person injured. | Reilly had been preparing the attack when a bomb went off in his hands in the restaurant's toilet - he was the only person injured. |
| He had made the bombs in glass bottles, one using caustic soda and the other kerosene, which he then filled with about 500 nails. | He had made the bombs in glass bottles, one using caustic soda and the other kerosene, which he then filled with about 500 nails. |
| Ms Middleton said: "I think he asked one of the barmen where the toilet was. | Ms Middleton said: "I think he asked one of the barmen where the toilet was. |
| "I was still outside working. The noise wasn't very loud. And then everyone started to leave the restaurant. | "I was still outside working. The noise wasn't very loud. And then everyone started to leave the restaurant. |
| "I went in to find out what was going on and I saw him. | "I went in to find out what was going on and I saw him. |
| "I thought it was an accident because he had seemed so quiet and shy." | "I thought it was an accident because he had seemed so quiet and shy." |