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Man guilty of vodka poison plot Man guilty of vodka poison plot
(about 1 hour later)
A man has been convicted of sending poison in vodka bottles through the post as part of a campaign for Scottish independence.A man has been convicted of sending poison in vodka bottles through the post as part of a campaign for Scottish independence.
Wayne Cook, 45, of Tyldesley, Greater Manchester, had denied using noxious substances to cause harm.Wayne Cook, 45, of Tyldesley, Greater Manchester, had denied using noxious substances to cause harm.
Manchester Crown Court heard he was one of two men who sent bottles of vodka filled with caustic soda to a Scottish journalist and a Lancashire councillor.Manchester Crown Court heard he was one of two men who sent bottles of vodka filled with caustic soda to a Scottish journalist and a Lancashire councillor.
Steven Robinson, a Scot, pleaded guilty to the same charges.Steven Robinson, a Scot, pleaded guilty to the same charges.
The two packages were sent in April last year to John Wright, a member of Blackburn with Darwen Council, and Scottish Daily Express journalist Myra Philp.The two packages were sent in April last year to John Wright, a member of Blackburn with Darwen Council, and Scottish Daily Express journalist Myra Philp.
Be in no doubt these men are terrorists Det Ch Supt Tony Porter
Royal Mail staff intercepted the parcel to Mr Wright but the second made it to Ms Philp.Royal Mail staff intercepted the parcel to Mr Wright but the second made it to Ms Philp.
It was accompanied by a note signed by the Scottish National Liberation Army (SNLA).It was accompanied by a note signed by the Scottish National Liberation Army (SNLA).
Steven Robinson pleaded guilty to the same charges
The note threatened that English people would be killed "at random and with no discrimination or compunction" in order to convince the British Government to withdraw from Scotland.The note threatened that English people would be killed "at random and with no discrimination or compunction" in order to convince the British Government to withdraw from Scotland.
There was also a threat to poison England's water supplies.There was also a threat to poison England's water supplies.
Nerve damage Dr John Jackson, a toxicology expert, told the court that the concentration of the caustic soda in the two miniature bottles was so high that the "worst-case scenario" for the intended recipients was death.
Dr John Jackson, a toxicology expert told the court that the concentration of the caustic soda in the two miniature bottles was so high that the "worst-case scenario" for the intended recipients was death.
He said it could also have caused blindness, nerve damage or serious burns to the skin.He said it could also have caused blindness, nerve damage or serious burns to the skin.
A serious risk would have been posed to members of the public or postal staff if the bottles had broken in transit, the court was told.A serious risk would have been posed to members of the public or postal staff if the bottles had broken in transit, the court was told.
Det Ch Supt Tony Porter, head of Greater Manchester Police's counter-terrorism unit, speaking after the verdict, said: "Be in no doubt these men are terrorists.Det Ch Supt Tony Porter, head of Greater Manchester Police's counter-terrorism unit, speaking after the verdict, said: "Be in no doubt these men are terrorists.
An act of pure cowardice Myra Philp
"This was not some clumsy joke - it was a serious attempt to cause real harm and intimidation.""This was not some clumsy joke - it was a serious attempt to cause real harm and intimidation."
Ms Philp, 45, who left her job as executive news editor with Scottish Express Newspapers' operation in Glasgow earlier this week, said it was "an act of pure cowardice."
"The people of Scotland live in a democracy and they do not need the SNLA to threaten individuals or commit acts of terrorism," she added.
Ms Philp said several threatening emails had been sent to her in recent months, including a claim that the SNLA had caused the Cumbrian train derailment which left a passenger dead.
She added: "These people are so despicable they also claimed responsibility for several sudden deaths in Manchester - gloating that they had left bottles of vodka laced with caustic soda on buses and the 'greed' of the named individuals who drank from the bottles killed them. The claims were untrue.
"All of this, emanating from these two individuals, was frightening and left me emotionally drained."