A teenager who planned a massacre at his former college in a case described as "chilling" has been jailed for life.

Liam Lyburd (19) admitted possessing an arsenal of weapons including bombs and a semi-automatic pistol.

The "cold and detached" teenager held a grudge against Newcastle College in the UK, after being expelled from his course for bad behaviour.

Sentencing Lyburd at Newcastle Crown Court, Judge Paul Sloan QC said he was in no doubt he would have carried out the attack had he not been caught.

"Your emotional coldness and detachment and your lack of empathy to others was self-evident," the judge said.

"It was only a matter of time before you would have put your plan into action".

The judge added: "Hearing the evidence in this case was, to say the least, a chilling experience".

"It is clear from everything I have read that the level of danger posed to the public by you is high".

Discovery of mask, boots and pipe bombs

Lyburd was told he would serve a minimum of eight years, but the judge warned the psychiatric evidence suggested it might be a "very long time indeed" before he was considered safe enough to be released.

The plot was uncovered last November when a Facebook contact informed the police of Lyburd's "evil" online postings in which he talked about plans to kill.

A search of his bedroom subsequently uncovered the weapons and a bag containing overalls, mask, boots and pipe bombs.

A deleted file disclosing incriminating evidence was later recovered from his laptop.

It read: "You people ruined my whole life, don't expect me to show mercy today. No-one disrespects me and gets away with it".

"I'll teach you people a little lesson on respect with my 9mm jacketed hollow points".

"It's time for extreme civil disobedience".

"Fantasy will become reality today for sure. Where the mind goes the body will follow and, yes, people will die, there's no question about that".

Lyburd showed no emotion as he was sentenced and led away.