A man suffering from schizophrenia who booby-trapped his garden with trip wires and explosives has been detained indefinitely under the Mental Health Act.
Donatien Se Sabi Bestrualta Chamchawala, 31, of Blackwood, was born Andrew Webbe but changed his name in 2003.
Recorder of Cardiff Nicholas Cooke QC ordered Chamchawala to be hospitalised and said: “An interest in explosives and weapons and a difficult-to-treat psychiatric illness is a very dangerous combination.”
The court was told how Chamchawala’s neighbours had been left terrified and paranoid after living next to him.
On one occasion a neighbour’s child went into Chamchawala’s garden to fetch a ball, which his permission, and set off one of the booby-traps.
Police found explosives and chemicals, instructions and weapons, including a sword and a machete.
Chamchawala admitted two counts of possessing explosives and possessing an illegal firearm.
Speaking after the hearing Detective Chief Superintendent Ray Wise, of Gwent Police, said: “His motivation remains a mystery, however it is clear that he has a deep-seated dislike for several sections of the community, which was a real concern for us.
“Whilst we will never know the consequences of what might have happened had we not intervened when we did, the fact remains that he had created a significant amount of explosives which posed a very real danger to himself and others in the community.”