Pensioner receives 5 years for firearms collection

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Pensioner receives 5 years for firearms collection

Possessing an illegal firearm carries a 5 year prison sentence unless there are exceptional circumstances.

By Barnaby Dracup

Thursday, 11 February 2010

Gun collector and firearms licence holder Roy Bennett, aged 71, was given a five-year sentence for possessing illegal firearms recently.

Passionate gun collector and firearms licence holder Roy Bennett, aged 71, was given a five-year sentence for possessing illegal firearms recently.

Bennett was living in a farm cottage, near Rochdale, when he amassed the guns.

He pleaded guilty to nine firearms offences at Bolton Crown Court.

A passionate gun collector, Bennett said he found one of the shotguns in the attic of his house when he moved in, and bought another at a car boot sale for just £1, where it was being sold as a cigarette lighter.

He had also built a miniature cannon himself and police were alerted to its existence when he fired it at a local gun club.

A Greater Manchester Police's firearms officer said it "sends out a very clear message to firearms and shotgun certificate holders".

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Comments

C.G. Valentine

Thu, 10th Nov 2011 09:37:33

This sentence is completely over the top. For possessing a couple of shotguns, which pose no threat to the community, a 71 year old is given 5 years at Her Majesties Pleasure. He would quite easily end his life behind bars. I take it that he did hold a Shotgun Certificate and that the possession of the unregistered shotguns is then more of an administrative offence than possession with the intent of committing a crime with them.

jp

Fri, 15th Apr 2011 16:57:48

The message it sends? That our authorities are insane?

Simon Mansell

Tue, 6th Jul 2010 15:27:57

And what clear message does this send out might I ask? The message that a 71 year collector get five years when his life expectancy is 12.91 years according to mortality tables! Half a life sentence! And who may I ask was harmed by the collector? No-one! So tell me how long I'd get is I glassed someone in a fight or kicked a police officer and beat my wife? I'm affraid to say this bring law and order in disrepute.

Swede

Wed, 24th Mar 2010 12:35:03

The UK is a joke country. Thank god for the french, swiss and scandinavians.

John Bonny

Sun, 14th Mar 2010 02:16:45

FIVE YEARS? At 71? Sends out a very clear message, the law is a joke and the people who enforce it are idiots. You don't get five years for manslaughter.