An alleged terrorist told the mother of his children he had been involved in a poison parcels plot, a court heard.

Wayne Cook, 45, is said to have made the admission to former girlfriend Marie Holmes after going on the run from police last May.

He is charged under anti-terrorism law with two counts of using noxious substances or things to cause harm and intimidate.

The unemployed father-of-three is accused of sending two miniature vodka bottles with lethal concentrations of caustic soda to public figures including a Blackburn councillor.

The acts were part of a campaign by the Scottish National Liberation Army for Scottish independence, Manchester Crown Court was told. Cook denies the charges but Steven Robinson has pleaded guilty.

Miss Holmes told the court that Cook, of Robert Street, Tyldesley, near Wigan, had turned up at her house in Blackburn and the he told her the police were "after him" for "something he had done".

Questioned by Paul Taylor, prosecuting, Miss Holmes said: "He had made some stuff. Him and his mate." She said that he also told her he had posted the substance to three addresses - to MP Jack Straw, to an address in Blackburn and to a third, unspecified address.

Miss Holmes said she had seen newspaper reports about the vodka, and that Cook drew her attention to a report it on Teletext.

Asked whether Cook had mentioned what the effects of the substance would be, Miss Holmes said: "Yes. It would kill him."

The court heard how Cook stayed with Miss Holmes for seven days before moving on to the house of her niece, Cathy Willoughby.

He was at the house when police arrested him on May 14. In a written statement, Miss Willoughby said that when officers came to her address Cook said: "They've got me, they've got me. Let them in, let them in."

The court earlier heard that two parcels containing the vodka bottles were sent to Blackburn Labour councillor John Wright and Scottish Daily Express journalist Myra Philp in April 2007.

Royal Mail staff intercepted the parcel.

(proceeding)