Two jailed for vodka poison plot

The pair wanted to force the UK government out of Scotland

Two men who sent vodka bottles filled with poison through the post as part of a campaign for Scottish independence have each been jailed for six years.

Wayne Cook, 46, and Steven Robinson, 42, sent the miniature bottles full of caustic soda to a Glasgow journalist and a Lancashire councillor.

A note threatening to kill English people "at random" was also sent.

The men from Tyldesley, Greater Manchester, were part of a Scottish National Liberation Army (SNLA) plot.

Cook, an Englishman, was found guilty under anti-terror laws last week of two counts of using noxious substances or things to cause harm and intimidate.

You boasted of what you could do, you expressed hatred of the English Judge Robert Atherton

Robinson, a Scot, pleaded guilty to the charges at an earlier hearing.

The two miniature vodka bottles were sent in April last year to John Wright, a member of Blackburn with Darwen Council, and Scottish Daily Express journalist Myra Philp.

Royal Mail staff intercepted the parcel to Mr Wright but the second made it to Ms Philp.

It was accompanied by a note signed by the Scottish National Liberation Army (SNLA).

The note threatened that English people would be killed "at random and with no discrimination or compunction" in order to convince the British Government to withdraw from Scotland.

'Very dangerous'

There was also a threat to poison England's water supplies.

During Cook's trial, the prosecution claimed he had become involved in the plot to take revenge against Blackburn with Darwen Council after his son Shane died in their care.

The court heard how Robinson had claimed he was acting under instructions from Adam Busby, a man who claims to lead the SNLA.

It was also told that the concentration of the caustic soda in the two miniature bottles was so high that the "worst-case scenario" for the intended recipients was death.

Judge Robert Atherton, passing sentence, said he questioned the remorse Robinson had shown since arrest.

"What you did was very dangerous indeed.

"You boasted of what you could do, you expressed hatred of the English.

"I find it hard to believe that you have changed so radically in the last few months."

He told Cook that he accepted his role in the plot had been less than Robinson's but that his failure to plead guilty meant he should receive the same sentence.