A man prohibited from possessing a firearm was found to be in ownership of three air rifles, two of them classified as “especially dangerous”, a court was told.
Paul Tomlinson was given a lifelong prohibition from possessing a firearm after he was jailed for six years for being concerned in the supply of heroin, at Teesside Crown Court, in January 2001.
Durham Crown Court was told police were called to an incident at Tomlinson’s home, in Cockfield, near Bishop Auckland, on July 19 this year.
Paul Rooney, prosecuting, said a search of the property uncovered three air rifles, all with detachable sound moderators, or silencers, and one loaded with air pellets.
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One of the weapons, an ED Compact air rifle, was less than 60cm in length, and which Mr Rooney said was one of two considered an especially dangerous firearm.
The defendant claimed he used it for vermin control, rather than for criminal purposes.
Another of the air rifles was loaded with two air pellets, and was also considered “dangerous”, while Tomlinson accepted using a third for shooting on private property.
Mr Rooney said the search also uncovered 403g of cannabis, said to be valued at £3,920.
Appearing at a plea hearing, by video link from HMP Durham, on August 18, the 48-year-old defendant, of The Fallows, admitted seven counts of possessing a firearm, ammunition or sound moderator, when prohibited, plus two each of possessing a prohibited firearm and possessing a firearm without a certificate.
He also admitted possessing a class B drug with intent to supply, but on a basis it was only to his girlfriend.
But he denied a further charge of possessing criminal property, £12,240 and a Rolex watch, also seized by police in the raid.
Mr Rooney said the Crown accepted the defendant’s basis of plea to the cannabis supply count, and would leave the possessing criminal property count, “to lie on the file”.
The court heard the defendant has 16 convictions for 42 offences including eight for drug-related matters.
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Mr Rooney said the defendant stands to receive a mandatory minimum sentence of five years for possessing the prohibited firearm, “unless there are exceptional circumstances”.
Amrit Jandoo, in mitigation, said his client had an argument with his partner on July 19, “a disturbance to which police were called and led to these weapons being recovered”.
Mr Jandoo said: “He was not using them at all in the incident and there was no public harm or alarm.
“It was simply that police visited the property and carrying out a search, discovering these weapons.”
Mr Jandoo said the defendant has a long-term partner who is in ill-health and he was caring for her due to her medical problems.
He added that the defendant’s more recent offences have been, “relatively low-level convictions”, adding: “He has not been in trouble for some time for drug convictions.”
Recorder Tom Moran said as the defendant could not argue, “exceptional circumstances” there was no reason not to impose the mandatory five-year prison sentence, making the other sentences all concurrent with that.
Proceeds of crime inquiries will culminate in a “mention” at the court in March, while Recorder Moran also ordered forfeiture and destruction of the seized firearms and drugs.
Read next:
Cases of five people before court in Durham in recent days
Man who spread fear in Trimdon with air rifle is jailed
County Durham man put recovered stun gun in carrier bag in loft
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