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<p>On 6 October 2014 the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) accepted guilty pleas to
one count of making an explosive substance, three counts of possessing a prohibited
firearm and one count of putting a person in fear of violence by harassment. The pleas
were accepted on the basis that if Harry Street’s mental health ever deteriorated
to the same extent it had in 1978 he was undoubtedly capable of deploying the weapons.</p><p>The
decision not to proceed with the four remaining counts was taken in accordance with
the Code for Crown Prosecutors which provides: “Prosecutors should only accept the
defendant’s plea if they think the court is able to pass a sentence that matches the
seriousness of the offending”. In view of the evidence before the court, it was clear
to the CPS that the sentence imposed by the court would be a restricted hospital order
under section 37 and section 41 of the Mental Health Act 1983 whether he was convicted
of all counts, or those which were accepted as pleas.</p><p>In making a restricted
hospital order, the Learned Judge fully supported the approach taken by the CPS. The
court ordered the remaining counts to lie on the file not to proceed without the leave
of the court.</p><p>The decision to accept the guilty pleas on 6 October 2014 was
taken following full consultation with the victims/ victims’ families for both the
recent offences and the 1978 offences.</p>
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