Thief with bullet-shooting flare gun

A ‘‘professional thief’’ caught with a flare gun modified to shoot bullets has been sent to prison.

Police found the flare gun in the glove box of Shaun Robert Senior‘s car on December 24, after he was spotted stealing two cellphones from a store in central Blenheim earlier that day.

The flare gun, about the size of a pen, was capable of shooting .22 bullets, police said.

Senior was charged with illegally possessing a firearm, which he initially denied.

However, he admitted the charge at the Blenheim District Court on Monday after a sentencing indication.

His lawyer Kent Arnott said the gun was already modified when Senior found it at a garage sale.

He was an experienced hunter, fisher and diver, and was familiar with flare guns which did not require a licence to own.

Senior did not think it would be illegal to own the modified flare gun, Arnott said.

Police prosecutor Mark Harris said police viewed the gun as a firearm because it was capable of shooting bullets, but did not believe Senior had any ‘‘sinister’’ intentions in possessing it.

Senior also admitted stealing the cellphones.

Judge Tony Zohrab said the flare gun was ‘‘basically a pistol’’ and Senior had it easily accessible in his car.

‘‘I don’t accept your explanation about its modification,’’ he said.

Senior had ‘‘regular’’ convictions for burglary dating back to 1986, and was sent to prison in May last year for six burglaries.

‘‘He’s a professional thief and burglar,’’ Judge Zohrab said. ’’Prison is the only option.’’

Judge Zohrab convicted Senior on all charges and sentenced him to seven months in jail for the shoplifting charges and a further seven months in jail for illegal possession of a firearm.