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Mr Lewington had two video compilations of news and documentary footage about bombers and bombings both in Britain and the US, the court heard.

These included the Mardi Gras bomber, who targeted Barclays Bank and Sainsbury’s, as well as Copeland and McVeigh.

Mr Altman said: “In addition to his extreme views on race and ethnicity the defendant had an unhealthy interest in bombers as well as bombings.

“Lewington was someone who had taken his interest and his practical skills far beyond the mere intellectual or academic levels.

“It is abundantly clear that in the privacy of his own bedroom and far from the gaze of his parents with whom he lived, this defendant had amassed the component parts of and had begun the manufacture of improvised explosive or incendiary devices, a production line from which he had garnered the two devices."

Mr Altman said Mr Lewington left school at 16 without qualifications but had worked in a number of electronics jobs.

He had been unemployed for 10 years after being sacked from his last job for being drunk. He lived with his parents but had not spoken to his father for 10 years. His mother said he had placed Plasticine in the keyhole of his bedroom so no-one could see inside.

“His parents, Margaret and Christopher, say he was a loner who spent time alone in his bedroom,” said Mr Altman.

Mr Lewington, who lived with his parents in Tilehurst, Reading, Berkshire, is accused of preparing for terrorism by having the bomb parts in a public place.

He also faces two charges of having articles for terrorism, two of having documents for terrorism and another of collecting information for terrorism.

Two further counts allege he possessed an explosive device “with intent to endanger life” and that he had explosives namely weedkiller.

He denies all eight charges.

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