A science enthusiast is facing 10 years' jail for importing nuclear material even though it was found to be harmless.
Emmanuel Steven Lidden, 24, was arrested in August 2023 when officers in full hazmat suits swooped on his parents' Arncliffe unit in southern Sydney, blocking off the street and evacuating neighbours.
They confiscated plutonium and depleted uranium in decorative vials and polymer cubes that Lidden kept by his bedside after buying from a US science collectables website to complete a real-life periodic table.
Scientists found the samples were harmless, but Lidden pleaded guilty to importing nuclear material into Australia and possessing nuclear material without permission, which could land him in prison for over 10 years.
Lidden's lawyer John Sutton said the anti-terror laws were clearly not aimed at people like Lidden.
'These laws were created to protect society from terrorists and people who intend to cause mass destruction, not naive young science fans,' he told the Daily Telegraph.
The laws were created in 1987 and Lidden is the only person to have been prosecuted under them.
Asked about the appropriateness of pursuing Lidden, a Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions spokeswoman said it 'conducts all prosecutions in accordance with the Prosecution Policy of the Commonwealth'.
Lidden, who works in a fast food outlet, made 10 orders for the nuclear material from US website Luciteria Science beginning in May 2022.
The website states: 'Collecting elements is a fun way to learn about chemistry'.
Lidden did not disguise the orders or any of his contact details.
Authorities became aware of the imports after Lidden's 11th order in June 2023.
Australian Border Force blocked the order, which contained a sample of mercury and thorium, because it posed a potential radiation threat,
However, United Postal Service still mistakenly delivered the shipment to Lidden, court documents said.
After a UPS employee contacted Lidden and asked for the samples to be returned he readily agreed
'(Lidden) replied he was happy to return it if UPS would come and collect it,' the court documents said.
Lidden had ordered plutonium and depleted uranium from a US website to make a periodic table of actual elements (stock image pictured)
'He also asked ... how it was delivered if it was prohibited in Australia.
'UPS explained they made an error in releasing it,' the documents said.
Lidden showed investigators invoices and packing slips for his 10 earlier purchases.
Following the raid, Lidden and his family were rushed to hospital and were cleared of radiation poisoning.
Fire and Rescue NSW conducted a 'safety sweep' before determining radiation emanations 'were at a level safe for human occupancy'.
While levels of 'uranium and mercury' were detected in Lidden's bedroom investigators found Lidden's table of elements was 'safe to be seized'.
A 'gamma-ray spectroscopy' was used to scan the cubes for radioactive material.
The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation confirmed positive results for plutonium, depleted uranium and other substances.
Luciteria Science has stopped selling plutonium.
Lidden will be sentenced on March 21.