A SOUTHAMPTON university student who smuggled a box of explosive flares on to a plane planned to set them off at football matches, a court heard today.

Andreas Pierides, 22, is a member of the fanatical 'ultra' supporters of Cypriot football team AC Omonia and had a copy of terrorist manual the Anarchist Cookbook Handbook on his laptop computer.

Pierides was stopped by police on his way home to Cyprus from Stansted Airport on 15 May this year after finishing his first year studies in business at the University of Southampton.

He now faces jail after pleading guilty at the Old Bailey to collecting information likely to be useful to a terrorist and having a dangerous article in an aerodrome.

Pierides insists he only bought the flares to use if he ran into trouble while on his jetski.

He told the court: “It was the first time I saw them where it said they were waterproof. If I wanted to use a flare at a football match I would use a handheld flare - you can get them anywhere in Cyprus. To light flares is something common in Cyprus.”

Pierides added that his uncle works for the CID in Cyprus and his mother used to be in the anti-terrorist squad before becoming a police trainer.

He admitted having the anarchist cookbook and other documents in a folder titled 'Anarchism' but told the hearing: 'I am not associated with the anarchist movement but I know things about anarchist and left wing and about right wing.'

Prosecutor Alistair Richardson said: “He admitted in interview his links with a group of ultra supporters of the Omonia football team.

“He had photos demonstrating the link between Omonia and the use of flares at football stadia.

“Analysis of his mobile phone shows text messages discussing the sale and purchase of fireworks, flares, fire crackers and smoke bombs.

“This is a man who has an obvious interest in flares linked to football.”

The court heard that the flares were initially given back to Pierides - only for police to confiscate them five days later when they realised their mistake.

Mr Justice Sweeney will have to decide the issue of whether Pierides was going to use the flares illegally at a football match before passing sentence.

After hearing from Pierides, he adjourned the hearing until Friday 7 November.

Pierides, of Lullington Garth, Woodside Park, Barnet, north London, remains on conditional bail.