A MAN is being sentenced by a judge today following the biggest ever seizure of illegal firearms in Cumbria.
Paul Holmes, 50, is appearing at Carlisle Crown Court this afternoon after entering guilty pleas to 12 crimes.
He told the hearing his collection "got out of hand."
Holmes denied ever holding the title of sergeant-at-arms within the Satan's Slaves motorcycle club
These relate to the possession of prohibited firearms and ammunition. Holmes had previously admitted two other similar offences. Around a dozen illegally-held sawn off shotgun, rifles and pistols are said to have been seized in South Cumbria from a house in Holme and a farm outbuilding in Milnthorpe on November 4 last year. A rented property at Morecambe was also searched.
The cache of arms was discovered during a joint operation carried out by Titan - the North-West's regional organised crime unit - along with Cumbria police and the National Crime Agency. Also recovered were more than 2,000 rounds of ammunition.
Michael Hayton QC, representing Holmes, told the court at an earlier hearing that there was an "unusual background to this matter".
Holmes, he said, had been a professional dealer in guns and a shooter during a "previous life" in Australia.
The judge told Holmes: "You must expect a custodial sentence."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here