D Walden 
A man from Southampton has been jailed today, 15 March 2021, at Southampton Crown Court, after police discovered chemicals and powders that could be used to create explosives and homemade parts for firearms in his home.
Pascal Knorr-Gulde, aged 48, has been sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment, with an extended four-year period on licence.
Inside Knorr-Gulde’s address in Southampton, police discovered a workshop with manuals and templates on how to construct firearms, as well as materials that could be used to make explosives.
He was also found in possession of a homemade stun gun that could discharge electricity, which is a prohibited weapon.
Police found firearms parts at the property together with a construction guide for a MAC-10 machine pistol.
Tabitha Macfarlane, prosecuting, said the defendant had demonstrated “significant planning” and there was evidence he had tried to sell items he was making on the dark web.
In mitigation, defence barrister Richard Onslow said Knorr-Gulde had an alcohol problem and was motivated only by his “unhealthy obsession with firearms and explosives”.
Passing sentence, Judge Peter Henry told the defendant he was “not simply a harmless, foolish eccentric meddling in a hobby”.
He added that he was taking into account his previous convictions, which included possessing a firearm in 2010, causing a bomb hoax in 2014 and battery of a police officer in 2018.
“Your previous criminal behaviour points to the fact you are a man who behaves erratically and vindictively when you believe you have been wronged,” the judge said.
“I conclude you believe yourself to be intellectually superior to others and a person who has a very thin skin who will lash out when you feel you have been wronged.
“I conclude you present a real and substantial risk of causing serious harm to members of the public.”
