A former magistrate on bomb charges told police he was being blackmailed into buying bomb components, a trial heard.

Jonathan Wilkes, 40, told police in interview that he was receiving demands for money from a mystery blackmailer who threatened to tell Wilkes's partner he had had an affair with another woman.

At first the blackmailer asked for £50 a week, he told police. But the demands then went up to £100 a week and Wilkes was asked to buy items from four "shopping lists", which detailed businesses where he could buy the components.

Wilkes told police he made efforts to find out who the blackmailer was, including buying a night vision sight, but never managed to see him during his pick-ups from Wilkes' home.

He claimed he became suspicious of what the blackmailer was trying to achieve and phoned around model shops to find out what the parts could be used for.

Wilkes, formerly of Wroslyn Road, Freeland, admits making the bombs, but denies two charges of unlawfully possessing explosive devices with intent to endanger life and two charges of unlawfully possessing explosive devices.

The trial continues.