Farmer found with ‘firearm lying around’
A WELLKNOWN West Wales dairy farmer was found with a firearm and ammunition lying around on his farm during a police inspection.
Kenneth Marshall, who has a farm in Rhydargaeau, Carmarthenshire, where he resides, appeared at Swansea Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to possessing a sawn-down .22 rifle firearm and ammunition — 62.22 long rifle calibre RWS cartridges — without a certificate.
He also admitted failure to comply with conditions set out in a certificate.
On the afternoon of October 3 last year a firearms inquiry was carried out by Dyfed-Powys Police at the farm in relation to a firearms licence Marshall holds until February 7, 2023, relating to four guns.
Marshall was not at the farm at the time as he was visiting an abattoir, but his wife allowed the officers to carry out the inspection.
Officers entered an old part of the farm where they discovered a sawndown .22 rifle and shotgun cartridges.
The 53-year-old was interviewed at Ammanford Police Station on October 12 where he provided a prepared statement, explaining how the shotgun was used as a “humane killer” on the farm.
The court heard shall’s licence had been revoked.
Mitigating, Nick Doherty said: “This man is a successful dairy farmer
Marsince and has been a farmer all of his life. He is well known and has a good reputation in the farming community.
“The basic facts are not disputed. The .22 rifle which was discovered in the barn had been adopted by the previous owners of the farm and he has had it for more than 30 years. He mistakenly thought he did not require any certification for it.”
Judge Keith Thomas, sentencing Marshall, described the way the weapons were left lying about the farm as “cavalier”, whilst acknowledging it was in a rural and remote location.
He sentenced Marshall to 18 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. He must pay £1,500 prosecution costs, £375 fine and a £149 surcharge.