POLICE found a firearm disguised as a torch during a search of a woman’s house, a court heard.

The disguised weapon and ammunition were recovered from a shelf within a child’s reach, at the home of Katrina Colquhoun, in West Cornforth, County Durham.

Officers with a Firearms Act search warrant visited the address in Birch Road, on September 22, and were directed to the living room.

Durham Crown Court heard that a knotted black bag and small box, containing ammunition. were retrieved from a shelf, while standing upright nearby was what appeared to be a torch.

Michael Branch, prosecuting, said on closer inspection there was a hole through the battery case the same size as the recovered ammunition.

Mr Branch said following subsequent examination by force experts it was confirmed that the torch was in fact a weapon, meeting the description of a disguised firearm.

Both Colquhoun and her boyfriend, Glen Clint, were arrested and interviewed.

Mr Branch said Colquhoun made no comment to most questions, but she confirmed the address was hers and the co-accused was her “on/off” partner who sometimes attended her home, but she was the only key holder.

Clint, 29, of Station Estate North, Murton, gave no comment to all questions, but at their first crown court appearance he admitted possessing a disguised firearm without a certificate.

Both he and 36-year-old Colquhoun admitted two counts of possessing ammunition without a certificate.

The court was told Clint has no firearms offences on his record, but he has previous convictions for carrying a wooden baton and a knife in public.

Nigel Soppit, mitigating, said Clint was given the weapon which he intended to dispose of, with there being no evidence of it being used.

“It’s a fairly basic instrument and capable of firing only a single shot at a time.”

He added that the defendant is aware of the mandatory minimum sentence of five years for such illegal firearms possession.

Chris Morrison, for Colquhoun said she is of previous good character and is in a far different position.

Judge Christopher Prince said: “The trouble with a single shot is that it can kill.”

He imposed the mandatory five-year sentence on Clint, while Colquhoun was given a 12-month sentence, suspended for two years, with 80 hours’ unpaid work.