A COVENTRY man has been jailed for six years for possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition after a jury took less than two hours to find him guilty of both offences.
Sean Walsh, from Binton Road, Wood End, was spotted on a motorcycle dumping two bags on a private waste ground belonging to a local business premises in October 2015.
On investigation the bag was found to contain a sawn-off shot gun, cartridges and live rounds of expanding ammunition.
Fortunately the witness had the presence of mind to take a note of the registration number of the bike and this led police to the 27-year-old.
He was later picked out in an identity parade and – although the evidence was against him – he continued to plead not guilty.
But after a two day trial, a jury were unanimous in their verdict and he was sentenced on Thursday (April 6) at Leamington Crown Court.
Investigating officer, Detective Constable Jim Stevenson said: “Guns have no place on our streets and this one could have easily fallen into the wrong hands or have been found by a child with potentially deadly consequences.
“We will never know why Walsh was discarding the weapon but we do know that it is now safely out of harm’s way.”
