Man jailed for 15 years over seizure of firearms

A MAN has been jailed for 15 years following the biggest seizure of illegal firearms in the North West which police said had “posed a direct threat” to the community.

The haul of guns and ammunition were recovered by officers investigating Paul Holmes, 50, who had returned to Cumbria from Australia, where he had been living for a number of years before being convicted of firearms offences.

Holmes, of Station Road, Holme, was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court after pleading guilty to 14 firearms offences including five counts of possession of a Section 5 Prohibited Firearm, four counts of possession of Section 1 Firearms, four of possession of prohibited ammunition and one manufacturing offence.

During a search at the address in Holme, officers found a “wellequipped” workshop containing various machines and tools believed to be capable of use in manufacturing firearms.

There was also equipment that was for use in reloading bullets and two handguns. Officers from the North West’s regional organised crime unit Titan began their investigations after information suggested he had held illegal firearms.

Following the sentencing, Detective Superintendent at Titan Joanne Edwards said that the conviction sent out a message that those involved in the manufacture of firearms could expect no leniency from the courts.

She said: “This massive haul of weapons recovered from Paul Holmes posed a direct threat to our communities and I am sure it is shocking to some that such a large amount of guns and ammunition were recovered in a quiet rural location.”

The prosecution came following a joint operation led by Titan.

Warrants were executed at the defendant’s home, a farm outbuilding in Milnthorpe and a garage in Devonshire Road, Morecambe, also owned by Holmes. The haul in Milnthorpe included sawn-off shotguns, rifles, a handgun, disassembled shot guns together with bullets of varying calibres.