A woman expressed concerns that her former partner had potentially rigged her residence with explosives, leading to the evacuation of homes, as disclosed in court proceedings. Maximin Carter, aged 51, received a sentence at Swansea Crown Court following the incident in Abergwynfi, Neath Port Talbot. The ex-partner contacted authorities on Valentine’s Day, alarmed by weapons, including an air rifle, ammunition, a knuckleduster, telescopic truncheons, and a ninja sword stored by Carter without permission.
Despite no explosives being discovered, Carter’s interest in weaponry prompted a significant police response involving military personnel. The chaotic state of the property raised suspicions of booby traps, necessitating neighboring properties to be evacuated to the miners’ hall. Prosecutors highlighted Carter’s breach of a non-molestation order and his past involvement with offensive weapons, leading to a five and a half year prison sentence for possession of prohibited and offensive weapons.
During police questioning, Carter initially acknowledged ownership of the seized items but later chose not to comment. Additionally, his criminal history includes prior convictions related to cannabis possession and an offensive weapon caution. The defendant, who appeared via videolink from HMP Swansea, will serve 40% of his sentence in custody and the remainder on license. Sergeant Kristian Burt of South Wales Police commended the community for their cooperation and emphasized the enhanced safety following the confiscation of Carter’s weapons.
