A Huddersfield man found with potentially explosive chemicals and bomb recipes while being probed by police for burying his ex-girlfriend alive has failed to win a cut in his prison sentence.
Police found chemicals used in gunpowder and dynamite at Marcin Kasprzak's Huddersfield home while investigating claims he attacked ex-girlfriend, Michelina Lewandowska, with an electric stun gun and sealed her in a cardboard box under soil in woodlands near Woodsome Hall Gold Club.
"Curious" Kasprzak , 27, formerly of Penistone Road, Fenay Bridge, was found guilty of attempted murder and possessing an offensive weapon in relation to the offences against Miss Lewandowska in January last year and handed a 20-year jail term.
A judge at Leeds Crown Court also handed him a four-year concurrent sentence in December, after he admitted eight counts of having an explosive substance.
Top judges at London's Court of Appeal have now rejected a challenge by Kasprzak against his sentence for the explosives offences, saying his punishment could have been even tougher.
Judge Clement Goldstone QC said officers raided Kasprzak's home in May 2011, and discovered "large quantities" of dangerous substances, recipes for explosives, and a copy of incendiary guide 'The Anarchist's Cookbook'.
Among the large haul was potassium permanganate, glycerol - an essential ingredient in dynamite - and potassium nitrate, which is an ingredient used in gun powder, the appeal judge added.
Formulae for making explosive substances were on a board in the spare room and Kasprzak had downloaded instructions for manufacturing explosive nitroglycerine.
Judge Goldstone said a scorch mark in the living room evidenced claims by Kasprzak's ex-girlfirend that he used some of the materials to make a firework and set it off inside the property.
Kasprzak admitted gathering the chemicals over a long period leading up to September, 2010, but had only done so out of "curiosity" - with no intention of injuring anyone.
However, explosives experts said the haul had the potential to cause "serious damage" to property and to injure Kasprzak's family and those living around him, the appeal judge added.
On appeal, his barrister, Brian McKenna said the judge erred by sentencing Kasprzak as though he had made explosives when he had only done some "basic experimentation" with the chemicals.
However, Judge Goldstone, sitting with Lord Justice McCombe and Mr Justice King, said the four-year sentence could justifiably have been made to run consecutive to Kasprzak's 20-year term.
The appeal judge concluded: "Notwithstanding Kasprzak's possession of these items, borne out of curiosity and a desire to experiment, the sheer quantity and the potential for harm, both inside and outside his own home, were factors entitling the sentencing judge to take a starting point of four and a half to five years.
"Had he been convicted of making explosives with the items in his possession that would have warranted a sentence of a substantially longer duration.
"In our judgment, this appellant could expect no more than ten per cent credit (for his guilty plea). Accordingly, the sentence of four years reflects the correct starting point and the appropriate sentence."
