Guns and ammunition stash leads to jail sentence

A man who kept "highly dangerous" guns and ammunition in two storage containers has been jailed for more than five years.

The cache including a revolver, pistols, rifles and semi-automatic weapons was found by police on land near Throop Mill, Bournemouth, in 2021.

Adam Harris, 54, from Egremont, Cumbria, admitted nine counts involving illegal possession of firearms and ammunition at a hearing in October 2023.

Appearing at Bournemouth Crown Court on Monday, he was jailed for five years and three months.

Dorset Police said Harris, from Egremont, Cumbria, was arrested on 10 January 2021 following a tip-off.

Officers said a search of the storage containers revealed a Smith & Weston 44 Magnum revolver, two Glock pistols and a Beretta Tomcat-32 pistol.

Six rifles were assembled from disassembled parts including a Winchester Savage bolt-action rifle, a Remington Ruger semi-automatic rifle, a Ruger Long semi-automatic rifle and a Nagant bolt-action rifle, the force said.

A crossbow, a stun-gun, more disassembled gun parts and multiple rounds of ammunition were also discovered.

Det Con Steven Davis of Dorset Police said: "We take all incidents involving firearms and prohibited weapons extremely seriously.

"We were able to arrest and charge Harris as well as find and confiscate a large haul of highly dangerous firearms, weapons and ammunition.

"I would urge anyone with information about individuals who are believed to be in possession of prohibited weapons to please do the right thing and report it to us."

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