A PARANOID schizophrenic who carried out a series of letter bomb attacks has been ordered to be detained indefinitely at a mental hospital.

Glynn Harding was branded 'pure evil' by a judge for waging the three-month campaign of terror against people and firms he believed had links with animal cruelty.

Harding, 27, sent home-made explosive devices to farmers and other firms with connections to the animal industry, including an agricultural firm in Thirsk, a pet store and a cancer research charity shop which sold fur coats.

The bombs injured three people, including an estate agent's secretary who was blinded in her left eye and a six-year-old girl, who was left scarred for life.

Passing sentence at Chester Crown Court on Friday, Judge Elgan Edwards said Harding would have been jailed for life had it not been for his mental condition.

Several of Harding's targets were in North Yorkshire, including Ripon sheep farmer John Thackeray who suffered facial injuries when a bomb exploded.

At an earlier hearing, Harding pleaded guilty to three charges of causing injury by explosives and 12 counts of sending an explosive with intent between last December and February this year.

Prosecutor Duncan Bould said Harding's mental health problems got worse after his common law wife suffered a miscarriage and the couple buried the baby in a jam jar in 'a secret place.'

"He claimed he heard the voice of Jesus, telling him to send 100 packages to ensure the baby went from hell to heaven," said Mr Bould.