‘Science nerd’ walks free for ordering plutonium over internet

A “science nerd” and collector has become the first person prosecuted in Australia for importing nuclear material to his home.

A “science nerd” has walked from court and escaped jail after he became the first Australian prosecuted under nuclear non-proliferation laws for importing plutonium and uranium to his Sydney home.

Emmanuel Lidden, 24, on Friday faced Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court after he pleaded guilty to importing depleted uranium and plutonium and other substances into the country via the post.

The ordeal resulted in his street being closed down and homes being evacuated as emergency crews in hazmat suits raided his home in August 2023.

But Lidden’s solicitor, John Sutton, described it as a “massive over-reaction”, saying outside court that the quantities of material were so small they were safe to eat.

Emmanuel Lidden importing depleted uranium and plutonium. Picture: NewsWire/Simon Bullard.

Lidden pleaded guilty to two charges – moving nuclear material into Australia and possessing nuclear material without a permit.

He was the first person prosecuted under the Nuclear Non-Proliferations and Safeguards Act.

But rather than importing the substances with sinister intent, he kept them on display in his bedroom beside his stamp, coin and banknote collections.

The court was told that he had the items delivered to his parents’ southern Sydney home as part of an effort to collect the periodic table after being inspired by Bill Gates.

During a sentencing hearing earlier this year, Mr Sutton described his client as “naive” and a “science nerd”.

Lidden made no attempt to hide his identity and used his own name to order the items from a publicly accessible US website.

The court was told that at one point parcel delivery company UPS had requested he return two of the items because they were prohibited – only for them to then be returned to Lidden.

Mr Sutton said outside court the Australian Border Force had “reacted excessively.”

He was described as an innocent collector. Picture: NewsWire/Simon Bullard

“A few weeks earlier they send a courier out to collect the same substances, so one wonders why the ABF felt the need to dress up in all the hazmat suits but they could sacrifice a courier,” he said.

“Plainly, the material was not dangerous. ANSTO science officers said you could have eaten the entire amount and still not been harmed.”

When his family’s home was raided, Lidden showed officers where his collection was on a shelf in his bedroom.

Judge Leonie Flannery noted the materials were stored in an “insecure fashion”.

But she also said that no one who came into contact with the items, including Lidden, suffered any ill effects.

The court was told that at the time, Lidden was leading an isolated life after an ACL injury prevented him from playing AFL. His lawyers argued that he was “self soothing” by collecting.

The court was told that at the time the ABF began its investigation, Lidden informed his bosses at Sydney Trains – where he was training to be a train driver – and lost his job.

Judge Flannery did not record a conviction against Lidden and ordered that he be subject to an 18-month bond and recognisance release order.

He was given a 25 per cent discount on his sentence for his early guilty plea and Judge Flannery noted his remorse.

Mr Sutton described the sentence as a “triumph for common sense and justice”.

“This was a poor young man who had a condition, was collecting material and the Australian Border Force reacted excessively,” Mr Sutton said outside court.

Originally published as ‘Science nerd’ walks free for ordering plutonium over internet