Liam Lyburd: Newcastle teenager found guilty of college massacre plot

Police discovered a gun and pipe bombs at his home

Liam Lyburd, who has been convicted of planning mass murder at his former college following a trial at Newcastle Crown Court. (Tom White/PA Wire)

A teenager has been found guilty of plotting a massacre at his former college after he collected an arsenal of weapons.

A member of the public contacted the police about reclusive 19-year-old Liam Lyburd, after he wrote online about carrying out a murderous attack, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Police who raided his home in November 2014 discovered a so-called “kill bag” in the bedroom which Lyburd rarely left.

It was filled with pipe bombs the teenager had made, a Glock semi-automatic handgun, and 94 expanding bullets he had bought on the online black market. Officers also discovered sinister overalls, a mask, and writing on his laptop in which he pledged to reap vengeance on the college which had kicked him out two years before.

A gun recovered from the home in Newcastle of Liam Lyburd (Image: CPS/PA) (CPS/PA Wire)

A note on his laptop read: “You people ruined my whole life, don't expect me to show mercy today. No-one disrespects me and gets away with it.

”I'll teach you people a little lesson on respect with my 9mm jacketed hollow points.

“It's time for extreme civil disobedience.

"Fantasy will become reality today for sure. Where the mind goes the body will follow and, yes, people will die, there's no question about that."

As police detained Lyburd, he laughed and told them they had prevented a massacre.

He claimed in court that photos of himself brandishing knives and a Glock were simply used to gain attention online as he was lonely. However the prosecutor told the court Lybrud had every intention of endangering lives.

Items recovered from the home in Newcastle of Liam Lyburd (Image: CPS/PA Wire) (CPS/PA Wire)

During the trial, Lyburd would smirk inappropriately and boasted that buying the Glock online was as simple as ”buying a bar of chocolate“.

Lyburd was obsessed with shootings, killing sprees and guns, the jury was told. But he was not mentally ill.

The teenager admitted nine charges relating to making five pipe bombs, two home-made explosive devices, possessing a 9mm Luger Calibre Glock gun, the hollow-point ammunition and CS gas.

However, he denied all eight charges of possessing those items with an intent to endanger life which the jury convicted him of.

Judge Paul Sloan QC, who warned Lyburd he faced a “very substantial sentence”, will deliver the punishment on 25 September, after a psychiatric report has been prepared.

A spokesman for Newcastle College said: ”The safety of our students and staff is always our top priority and we would like to thank Northumbria Police, who we worked closely with throughout the incident.“

Additional reporting by PA