A WILD West showman whose Morecambe home was a "bomb makers paradise" filled with explosives, guns and ammunition started a 10-year jail sentence this week.

John Baker, 59, of Clark Street, described in court as a "fantasist," was a self-styled vigilante who had written a political manifesto targeting the police, politicians and traffic wardens.

He had threatened to kill a man he wrongly believed was a paedophile and gave a pipe bomb to a friend who took it home on the bus.

He was arrested following a raid by armed police and soldiers from the army bomb disposal unit.

The details surrounding Baker's bizarre life were revealed at Burnley Crown Court as the former showman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to cause explosion, having explosive substances, possessing firearms and ammunition and threats to kill.

Police were led to Baker after the man he had given the explosive device to, Philip Benson, called the authorities saying he had found a bomb at the gate of a mosque in Nelson.

Police searched his home while he was at the station making a statement and found a hacksaw, pipe cutter and letters from Baker.

Police later went to Baker's home and arrested him.

They effectively stumbled upon a "bomb maker's paradise" and found gunpowder, chemicals, fuses and a commercial detonator.

The defendant also had two revolvers, an air rifle with ammunition, a video showing how the weapon could be modified and lots of ammunition.

All the guns were in working order.

Officers also discovered a mass of recipes for various explosive devices.

The judge Raymond Bennett said Baker seemed to lack any kind of appreciation of how such things would, in the minds of right thinking people, cause grave anxiety about his intentions.

He went on: "These are serious cases.

The alarming thing is you don't seem to think they are serious."

Both Baker and Benson have already served custodial terms for arson.

Sentencing Baker to 10 years, Judge Bennett said a psychiatric report stated Baker was 'perfectly normal.' He said his behaviour echoed the kind of thing he was involved in during 1994, when he was jailed for arson using an incendiary device.

Defending Baker, Tim White said that the conspiracy was stupidity rather than evil and that he was not an anarchist dedicated to causing political turmoil.

One of the investigating officers behind the arrests, DC Charlie Haynes, said it had been a strange case and added: "I think the long custodial sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence."