A DRUNKEN father who tried to build a bomb to deal with young yobs who attacked his home celebrated his release from prison last night.

Nicholas Smith faced a life sentence under laws designed to combat terrorism after he was caught creating a napalm mixture as he plotted revenge on louts in Horden, County Durham.

The 53-year-old grandfather was instead given a suspended jail term after a judge heard he had suffered from untreated depression, drank heavily to combat it and was plagued by neighbours.

Judge Tony Briggs described the sentence as exceptional and told Teesside Crown Court yesterday that anyone else in the same position would be jailed.

Former Territorial Army volunteer Smith had downed 20 pints before he searched the internet for DIY bombmaking instructions following an egg attack on his terraced home on May 8.

During his trial in September, it emerged that he had suffered mental health problems since the death of his young daughter 25 years ago, but had never received any professional help.

Judge Briggs heard yesterday that he has had counselling while on remand for the past six months, and also received treatment for a drink problem, both of which will continue.

Smith said as he left court: “I have needed that help for all these years, but never got any. Things are much better now, but I have still got a long way to go. I am just glad I am going home.”

After arriving at his new home in Horden – away from the trouble – the former school caretaker took granddaughter Cassey for a walk, and enjoyed a cup of coffee with his relieved family.

He said: “I cannot tell you how good this feels. I am just delighted to be home, to be back with the people I love. I had feared being locked up for another two or three years.”

He said he hoped to secure voluntary work and planned to raise money for charity by doing the Great North Run and a parachute jump – and vowed never to drink again.

He said: “If I relapse and go back on the drink, it is going to cost me my marriage, it is as simple as that. I have got to prove to everybody, and myself, that I can do it.”

His wife Dorothy, 63, and daughter Amanda Jane, 20, who were in court to see him freed, told of their ordeal since his arrest.

His daughter said: “People called him the Horden Bomber, but he is nothing like that – he is just a harmless man. The only thing he is guilty of is trying to protect his family.”

His wife said: “The last six months have been a nightmare. He has not coped well in prison. Other prisoners were putting daft things in his head that he was going to get 18 years. It is a massive relief that he is now out. He has lost so much weight as a result of all this.”

Smith declared war on those responsible for plaguing him with anti-social behaviour when he posted a message on Facebook: “To hell with the cops... I will burn them tonight.”

He was mixing bomb ingredients in a pan when police arrived at his home after a 999 call he had made.

Judge Briggs told him the fact that he had spent six months behind bars on remand and had been able to start tackling his alcohol problem also saved him from immediate custody.

Smith was given a six month jail sentence, suspended for two years, with supervision.

He had been convicted of making an explosive substance with intent to endanger life.

Ashraf Khan, in mitigation, said Smith was not the kind of person for whom the hard-line anti-terror laws were introduced, and added: “This is an unusual case.

“It is an unsophisticated attempt to construct an explosive device, looking at the quantities he used. He is not the sort of man who has violent tendencies.

“He had drunk about 20 pints of bitter, so he was completely intoxicated, and that obviously had a massive impact on his judgement.”