A jury was expected to retire to consider its verdict today in the case of a magistrate accused of making bombs to blow up a love rival.

Jonathan Wilkes, 40, admits making nine pipe bombs found in Freeland, near Witney, and one found near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, in August, 2000.

The prosecution claims he intended to use them against Howard Davies, the boyfriend of Collette Cooper -- Wilkes' former girlfriend.

The trial heard Wilkes obtained and assembled parts for the bombs and had asked a friend, Andy Kay, four times about how he could have someone killed.

But Wilkes, who admits telling police a string of lies, claims he built the bombs as part of a suicide plan devised to make his own death look like an accident.

Yesterday, Oxford Crown Court heard the closing arguments from the defence and prosecution counsel and summing up from the judge, Peter Crawford QC.

The judge said Wilkes was entitled to be viewed as a man of good character, although he had lied to the police.

He said: "He had been appointed as a magistrate and you can take it from me you do not get appointed a magistrate if there are any stains on your character."

But he added: "He told a pack of lies through the investigations and, as he now readily agrees, led the police a merry dance."

Wilkes claimed he was being blackmailed by an unknown person who threatened to tell his partner Annie Henriot of his affair with Miss Cooper. This was making him stressed, he claimed.

He claimed he intended to kill himself by picking up a movement-sensitive bomb left in a carrier bag, as if it had been left by the mystery bomber.

Wilkes, formerly of Wroslyn Road, Freeland, denies two charges of possession of explosive devices with intent to endanger life and two counts of unlawfully possessing explosive devices.

The trial continues.