British bomber with Asperger's to appeal prison sentence

From the BBC:

A Muslim convert jailed for a failed suicide bomb attack in Devon is to appeal against his sentence, the BBC has learned.

Nicky Reilly, 23, from Plymouth, (pictured) was ordered to serve a minimum of 18 years for setting off a home-made nail-bomb in a restaurant on Exeter last May.

He was jailed after admitting charges of attempted murder and terrorism.

His mother, Kim, said the appeal would ask to reduce his term and see if he could serve the remainder in hospital.

Reilly was the only person injured when he accidentally set off his home-made nail-bomb in a toilet of the Giraffe restaurant.

He was preparing to detonate three devices, created using glass bottles and containing about 500 nails, caustic soda and kerosene, when one exploded in his hands.

Dozens of customers and staff fled the restaurant in panic but no-one else was injured.

Reilly - who converted to Islam between 2002 and 2003 - had admitted the charges last October, but sentencing at the Old Bailey was delayed until January to allow doctors to assess his mental state.

He has learning difficulties and Asperger's Syndrome, struggled to make friends and is thought to have a mental age of 10.

The BBC's South West Home Affairs Correspondent, Simon Hall, said: "This appeal will take two grounds effectively.

"Reilly's mother, Kim, said first of all she wanted to see the minimum term reduced. She said she believed 18 years was too long.

"She thinks it should be lower than that because the judge, in her words, 'showed no mercy'.

"She's also particularly keen for the legal authorities to look again at whether Reilly could serve his term in a hospital.

"Kim Reilly said she thought that that would mean he could be treated for some of the mental health issues which she believes led to him being vulnerable to radicalisation."