Woman had ‘hoard of weapons’ in her home

A“CAVALIER” woman with a “genuine affection for weapons” was caught with five illegal firearms – including a revolver stashed in a book – and more than 700 unlawful rounds of live ammunition in her home.

Nigelle Von De Bar Baskerville, 55, from Powys, who referred to herself as an expert in weapons, was jailed at Cardiff Crown Court after admitting a string of firearms offences.

Opening the case, prosecutor Nigel Fryer said: “She had a hoard of weapons.”

The court heard the local authority received a report of firearms at her property in Llangynog, Builth Wells, in November 2012 and reported the matter to the police.

Prosecutors said police officers searched the property and recovered “a number of weapons”.

The court heard police found five prohibited firearms, along with 735 rounds of ammunition held unlawfully.

Mr Fryer said officers discovered one revolver in a book and another under a step.

He argued the storage was “neither safe, nor lawful”, adding that none of the weapons was deactivated and all of the ammunition was live.

The prosecutor said: “The Crown say she had an arrogant and cavalier attitude to weapons.”

Von De Bar Baskerville was arrested on December 6, 2012, while travelling on the A481 towards Builth Wells.

She stated the weapons were “historically interesting” and accepted she had occasionally fired them.

Mr Fryer said: “The reality of the situation is this – she had a hoard of weapons and a substantial amount of illegal ammunition.

“It may be that she disagrees with the law but she is not above the law.”

He suggested that by keeping unsecured weapons at an isolated location they “could have fallen into the hands of others”.

Von De Bar Baskerville, from Neuadd Fach in Llangynog, Builth Wells, admitted five counts of possessing a prohibited firearm.

She also admitted two counts of possessing prohibited ammunition and 20 counts of possessing ammunition without a licence.

The defendant appeared via video link from HM Eastwood Park Prison for the hearing.

Matthew Roberts, defending, argued the weapons were “antiques” and described them as “works of art she has collected”.

He added: “She has a genuine affection for weapons.”

Mr Roberts said his client, who described herself as “an expert in firearms”, owned other weapons lawfully.

He told the court she complied with the police, told them where the weapons were kept, and made admissions in interview.

Referring to a pre-sentence report and a psychological report, he said: “She does not pose any threat at all.”

He said the defendant, who uses a wheelchair, has found her time in a custodial setting difficult and argued there were “exceptional circumstances”.

Judge Richard Twomlow found there were exceptional circumstances and did not impose the minimum sentence of five years.

Von De Bar Baskerville was jailed for two years and the judge made an order for the weapons to be confiscated and destroyed.