Gambling addict had stash of weapons

3:02pm Wednesday 24th September 2008

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A COMPULSIVE gambler has admitted having a stash of weapons to protect him from loansharks.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Graham Calvert, 29, was in possession of a prohibited handgun and a shotgun without a certificate, carrying a knife, and possession of cocaine with intent to supply.

The former greyhound trainer, of Sedgeletch Farm in Houghton le Spring, Wearside, lost hundreds-of-thousands of pounds on bets. Earlier this year his High Court bid to claim £2m from William Hill bookmakers was thrown out.

He had claimed the company was negligent in continuing to take bets from him, despite him excluding himself from their shops.

His barrister Christopher Knox told Newcastle Crown Court that he had the weapons to protect him from creditors who he had borrowed money off and gambled away, and who would use "unorthodox" methods to get their cash back.

Mr Knox said debt collectors were responsible for attacks on Calvert's property, and once even broke Calvert's arm during an attack on him.

"There are records of a number of attacks on the premises where he was living, where his mother lived, where his sister and her partner lived with a small child and there was every reason to fear, on his part, those attacks would continue," he said.

The court heard the handgun was an antique revolver for which bullets are no longer manufactured and are now impossible to get hold of.

Calvert will be sentenced on October 17, and was granted unconditional bail until then.