A 43-YEAR-OLD man has pleaded not guilty to having explosive “paintball grenades”.

Scott Porter, of St Josephs Way, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, appeared before the Old Bailey by video link from Wandsworth prison on Thursday.

He denied a charge of having an explosive substance in relation to “improvised paintball grenades” under circumstances giving rise to “a reasonable suspicion that he did not have it in his possession … for a lawful object”.

He also pleaded not guilty to three counts of possessing information likely to be useful to a person preparing an act of terrorism.

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The offences are alleged to have been committed on or before October 2 2019.

The charges followed an investigation by officers from Counter Terrorism Policing South East, assisted by Sussex Police.

Judge Mark Dennis QC remanded the defendant into custody until his trial on September 27.