Dean Anthony Edwards faces court over alleged homemade bomb found by police

Police traced a chemical shipment to this house thinking they were about to bust a drug lab – instead, they found an alleged homemade bomb.

Police tracked a shipment of illicit equipment to a northern suburbs house thinking they would discover a drug lab and instead found an “experimental chemist” making a bomb, a court has heard.

The Adelaide Magistrates Court has heard Dean Anthony Edwards has a long criminal history, including a past prosecution for building explosive devices.

Counsel for Mr Edwards, however, have insisted their client was making an “incendiary device” for camping, not a bomb, and that his criminal ways are “in the past”.

Mr Edwards, 60, of Direk, has yet to plead to possessing supplies or taking steps in the manufacture of an explosive.

He is further charged with possessing or supplying instructions to create an explosive without lawful excuse.

The charges relate to a police raid on Mr Edwards’ home, in Desyllas Drive, in August this year.

At the time, police said they had found “a large amount of chemicals and equipment”, requiring them to call bomb disposal officers and evacuate nearby residents.

Mr Edwards’ house at Desyllas Drive, Direk. Picture: Dean Martin

Some residents were unable to be in their homes from 10am until 7pm, while others in surrounding streets were told to stay inside for their own safety.

On Wednesday, Mr Edwards applied for bail – a move strongly opposed by prosecutors.

They said officers first became aware of the situation while tracking “a large delivery” of chemicals and glassware to the Desyllas Drive address.

Believing the house was being used as a drug lab, officers moved in – they allegedly found Mr Edwards and the explosive device.

Counsel for Mr Edwards denied the allegations, saying his client was “a chemist” who “liked to experiment”.

“He was not making explosives, he never had any intention of making explosives, the prosecution’s case is not strong enough to refuse bail,” he said.

“He had an interest in creating an incendiary device and taking it camping … he was doing experiments.”

He conceded Mr Edwards had a criminal history, both in SA and Queensland, that included numerous offences and a $600 fine for producing explosives.

“He has some matters, yes, but that was in the past – he has reformed and he’s anxious to return to his employment,” he said.

Magistrate Karim Soetratma said the allegations were too serious to warrant bail and remanded Mr Edwards in custody to face court again in December.