Breaking Bad fan convicted of trying to buy ricin online

A man faces jail after being found guilty at the Old Bailey today for trying to buy ricin poison from the Dark Web after being inspired by the hit US television series Breaking Bad.

Software programmer Mohammed Ali, 31, struck a deal with a supplier on the internet black market to buy 500mg of powder for $500 (£320) in Bitcoins, enough to kill 1,400 people.

But the supplier was actually an undercover FBI agent who tipped off counter terrorism police in England and substituted the consignment of ricin for harmless powder.

Ali, whose username was Weirdos 0000, held his head in his hands after being found guilty of attempting to possess a chemical weapon between January 10 and February 12.

In his defence, Ali told jurors that he was just "curious" and was unaware that ricin was illegal.

Police swooped on his home when he took delivery of a toy car with five vials hidden in the battery compartment.

Under ultraviolet light, Ali's face lit up showing that he had handled the package which had been specially treated with a marker substance.

Computer analysis showed that Ali first began trawling the internet for information on poisons such as abrin, ricin and cyanide in October last year.

Adjourning sentencing to September 18, Mr Justice Saunders said there was no evidence that he was planning any sort of terrorist attack.