Jury asked to convict Glasgow man caught with pipe bomb ingredients in home in city

A jury has been asked to convict a man who was caught with the ingredients to make a pipe bomb in his home.

Gunpowder, black powder, pipes, a fuse and fishing weights were found in the Glasgow home of Martin Cox.

Hand-drawn diagrams were also discovered in the 44-year-old's home in Old Shettleston Road last February.

Police evacuated the property after the "dangerous" items were discovered, in the interests of public safety.

Cox is on trial accused of two charges under the Explosive Substances Act 1883. 

He denies making or knowingly possessing gunpowder and the chemicals needed to make it.

And he denies possessing it and "apparatus, implements and materials" of a pipe bomb "with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury".

Today, Tuesday, December 16, 2025,

prosecutor Alan Palfrey asked the jury to convict him of the charges.

He listed all the items Cox was found to be in possession of and said: "What happens if you put all that together?

"You get a pipe bomb. An IED - it's an Improvised Explosive Device.

"We live in a country where it's illegal to possess IEDs or explosive substances.

"He had bomb making equipment - that's what he intended to do.

"It's about intent - intent to endanger life or damage property.

"This is not the actions of an outdoor hobbyist.

"It's the actions of someone who had an intent - an intent to endanger life or cause serious injury.

"There was no explosion at the end, no injured party or damaged building."

But defence solicitor advocate Derek Pettigrew asked the jury to acquit Cox, saying he had been at a particularly low point in his life at the time.

The lawyer said his client had recently been sacked and was struggling with addiction issues.

Cox had called the Samaritans the day before his home was raided by armed police.

Mr Pettigrew said: "What he was looking for was help and that was probably what he needed.

"There was no intention whatsoever to hurt anyone and there's no evidence that he did."

The trial continues.

Detective Inspector Stephen Palmer earlier told the trial there was a hand-drawn diagram which had been labelled.

The labels included "mechanism", "spring", "firing pin", "metal road" and had an arrow drawn to one part with the note "opposite way".

He said that the Royal Navy were called in to help them ensure the area was safe.

He explained: "The EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) from the Royal Navy.

"They deal with explosives - the bomb disposal unit."

He said there was a "strategy meeting" between police and the Royal Navy.

And he said that the decision was taken to "carry out an evacuation of the block", confirming the neighbouring properties were evacuated.