ROBOT FLAWS
NEWS COPY - WITH PICTURES - by Imogen Robinson
The Brit busted for allegedly trying to shoot Donald Trump was 'obsessed' with guns - and killer ROBOTS.
Michael Sandford, tried to grab a police officer's gun and wanted to shoot the billionaire Republican candidate at a rally in Las Vegas.
The 20-year-old, from Dorking, Surrey, bragged online about having three fighting robots - and even posed up with one machine that has a giant axe capable of cutting through steel.
Yesterday (Tues) his mother, Lynne Sandford, refused to comment as she walked out of her home in Dorking.
Police arrived at her home shortly after 9am and spent 15 minutes with Lynne, a young girl and an older woman, before accompanying them into their car.
Leaving her flat at a red brick development near the town centre, Michael's mother refused to speak.
Police stood while she got into a car and drove off, and then left themselves immediately after.
A neighbour, who wouldn't give her name, confirmed that the woman was Sandford's mother and said she knew Sandford, but added she did not want to talk about him.
Five years ago, Sandford was heavily involved with building and fighting Robot Wars-style machines with his mum and her partner Paul Davey - and the trio fought under the name 'Team ENIGMA.'
The lad, when he was a teen, had a room at Paul's house that was decorated in camouflage and military-style netting - with a number of plastic guns hung on the wall.
Weapon-obsessed Sanford is thought to have had three heavyweight fighting robots, including one that was used on hit BBC Two TV show Robot Wars.
His prize robot, named Steel Avenger, boasted a pneumatically-powered axe and a ramming blade to inflict damage on it's opponents.
Writing online, Paul said: "Congratulations to Mike on the birth of his son.
"'Steely' weighs 100kg travels at 20 mph and has an axe that can cut through steel plate. Please let me have a go!"
He also owned Mr Nasty, which featured a steel ramming spike for shunting and piercing, as well as X-Terminator, also sporting a pneumatic axe weapon.
Sandford battled his robot as part of Team Enigma, along with his mum and Paul, taking part in in events hosted by the Fighting Robots Association (FRA).
ENDS - MFL
