A MAN with two illegally held rifles, plus ammunition for both, admitted he did not have the necessary certification, a court heard.

Police acting on a tip-off visited Christopher Sherwood’s home in High Row, Newfield, near Willington, on January 19.

Durham Crown Court heard he led the officers to a locked rear garage from where he handed over four rifles in carry cases.

Amrit Jandoo, prosecuting, said two were legally held, but a bolt action .22 rifle and a powerful air rifle required certification, as did silencers and ammunition for both.

Sherwood said he found the bolt action rifle in bushes while flying his bird of prey, but said he had never fired it.

He said he was given the air rifle, which previously belonged to a friend who died, and used it to help “an associate” with pest control.

The court heard due to previous convictions he was unlikely to have been granted a firearms licence.

Sherwood, 48, admitted five breaches of firearms certification legislation.

Stephen Hamill, for Sherwood, said the bolt action shotgun was not capable of firing in the condition it was recovered.

Jailing Sherwood for six months, Judge Jonathan Carroll said he accepted he was sorry over the situation, but he added that he had to respond to public concern over potential misuse of firearms.