STEPTOE & GUN
Junk shop boss jailed after ammo & weapon sales Jigsaw Jim’s piece-ful life
A MAN who sold weapons under the counter at his junk shop has been jailed for three years.
Darren Brown – described in court as “a Steptoe and Son character” – was caught with military bullets, cartridges for shotguns and a stun gun disguised as a torch.
The haul was found in the safe of his business – That Shop – in Preston, Lancs, after an earlier police raid at his house uncovered further gun paraphernalia.
Brown, inset, 51, had already been banned from owning guns or ammo because of previous convictions for burglary, harassment and making threats to kill.
Prosector Thomas Fitzpatrick referred to the classic BBC comedy, saying: “The defendant is somebody trading like a Steptoe and Son character.
“The police were quite satisfied that whatever he was up to he wasn’t a closet gangster.”
Brown’s barrister Shirley Duckworth told Preston Crown Court how the ammo was not advertised and could only be bought in under-thecounter deals. The court also heard how the dodgy shopkeeper obtained his stock from a friend who worked at a dump and from house clearance firms. Brown, who admitted offences including possession of ammunition without a certificate, would buy sealed boxes with no idea what was actually inside them. He also admitted possessing Class B amphetamines. Sentencing him, Recorder Mark Ainsworth said: “Every attempt is made in this country to ensure that only those people who are regarded as suitable and responsible should have access to firearms or ammunition. “The consequences of somebody who isn’t responsible having access to ammunition of this sort are all too clear. “If a person comes before the court having had possession of military-style ammunition without regulation, for sale or transfer, then I must take it very seriously indeed. “In this case the vast majority of the ammunition had no lawful purpose in civilian life.” CORONATION Street’s Jimmi Harkishin is piecing his life together with a new hobby…jigsaw puzzles.
The reformed hell-raiser, who plays corner shop owner Dev Alahan, is hooked on the 1,000-piece challenges.
He’s already completed a colourful portrait of the Taj Mahal in India and an English country meadow.
Jimmi, 51, has told pals he finds his new pastime Crime Editor relaxing after a hard day in front of the cameras.
He took time out from Weatherfield in 2004 after pictures appeared to show him using drugs. A month earlier he was cautioned by police following an alleged theft in Essex.
A friend revealed to us: “Jimmi’s had a bit of a wild past but he’s a totally different man now.
“He has a passion for jigsaws.”