A SCIENTIST has denied setting traps at his property in Swanley Village in an attempt to injure burglars.

Nigel Cockburn, who worked for the Ministry of Defence for 36 years, laughed off suggestions that he built a lethal "man trap".

He told a jury: "If I wanted to make that so it was a horrible thing to kill people and hurt people, I could have dreamt up something much more severe."

Maidstone Crown Court has heard how an Army explosives expert was injured when he opened the door to an outbuilding and the alleged trap swung at his head.

Captain Iain Swan suffered wounds to his arm as he raised it to protect himself in July last year. One of the nails penetrated through to the bone.

Cockburn, 53, owned three houses in Wood Street but had gone to live at his mother’s house in Cloonmore Avenue, Orpington.

He smashed both his legs in a microlight plane crash five years ago and had to learn to walk again.

"I have spent my entire life working in counter-terrorism," he said. "I design things to stop terrorist bombs exploding.

"Everything I do is designed to search the Prime Minister’s bedroom, search his office and protect the Queen."

He had become disillusioned with living in Swanley Village, because of crime and noise from the nearby M25.

"Swanley Village 30 years ago was a fabulous place to live," he said. "But over the last 10-12 years it has become a hell hole. It is a horrible place. I don’t like going there."

He made numerous complaints but nothing had been done. He had been burgled 20 times in 14 years.

"They will take what they want," he said. "There is nothing you can do about it. If you are there, it doesn’t even stop them."

Cockburn said he created the device with nails for welding practice when he was making a mower.

Asked if it was intended to harm intruders, he replied: "I have given up thinking about burglars. All I wanted to do was get out of the country and take my toys with me."

Cockburn denies wounding with intent, assault causing actual bodily harm, setting a man trap and possessing ammunition without a certificate.

The trial continues.