Grenade thugs jailed

TWO men left a hand grenade on a doorstep as a 'threat, a court heard yesterday.

- AMY WALKER

The street where the weapon was found had to be evacuated while the bomb squad were called to remove it and dispose of it safely.

Shaun Offlands and Lee O'Shea rode over on a motorbike from Merseyside to Whitefield, Bury, in September last year. Offlands, 29, then placed the device on the doorstep of a home on Randale Drive.

Witnesses saw the pair acting suspiciously before they quickly left, with O'Shea acting as the driver.

They then went to investigate and found the device, Minshull Street Crown Court heard. They realised it was a hand grenade and called the police.

Randale Drive was evacuated following the discovery of the device and members of the public were advised to stay away from the area as the Army's Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit safely removed it and later conducted a controlled detonation.

Offlands and O'Shea, both from Liverpool, were arrested and were jailed yesterday after admitting possessing an explosive device.