A BIKER who kept a pump action shotgun under his bed for 15 years has been jailed.

Police found the illegal weapon at the home of William Armstrong, a stage technician at biker events, during a drugs raid on August 16, Durham Crown Court heard.

Armstrong, 41, of Melrose Court, Consett, County Durham, who kept the gun wrapped in blankets and in a plastic bag, said he bought it for protection.

Officers executing a search warrant also found 27 cartridges.

Judge Peter Armstrong said: "It's the sort of illegal which could have been used to protect you and your drugs supply from others but if it had fallen into the wrong hands there's only one thing it could have been used for and that's crime."

Armstrong pleaded guilty to possessing a weapon and possessing ammunition and was sentenced to five years and 12 months in prison, to run concurrently.

He also admitted four charges of possessing drugs with intent to supply and one of possession.

Officers found nearly 200 (TWO HUNDRED) ecstasy tablets, four to five ounces of amphetamine, three quarters of a kilo of cannabis, half an ounce of cocaine and a small amount of cannabis resin at his home - worth a total of about 3,500 (THREE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED).

For the drugs offences he was given two prison terms of three years, two of twelve months and one of one month, all to run concurrently.

Tony Davies, for Armstrong, said he was a trusted employee and takes part in four to six charity events each year raising money for a number of causes, including the Great North Air Ambulance.

"He's keen to help with charity, he's hardworking and he's not without intelligence, given that he's an expert with computers," he said.