War collector spared jail for banned guns (From Halesowen News)

War collector spared jail for banned guns

3:17pm Wednesday 27th August 2008 in News

A 45-year-old Oldbury man who had a number of banned guns in his "vast" collection of World War II memorabilia has been spared time behind bars.

Stephen Gilbert had been an avid collector since he was a schoolboy and his guns provided him with real "gratification," said Blondelle Thompson, defending.

She said Gilbert was a man of impeccable character and she produced a string of references from bodies including the World War 11 Historical Society and a number of gun clubs.

Miss Thompson told Wolverhampton Crown Court that Gilbert was a genuine collector and he had always acted in a responsible manner with the weapons he kept under lock and key.

She said he took great pride in his collection and there was no suggestion at all any of the banned weapons including a Springfield rifle and a flare gun had been used.

Gilbert, of West Avenue, admitted five charges involving the possession of prohibited weapons and ammunition and he was given a 12 month jail term suspended for 18 months.

Judge Michael Challinor told Gilbert, who was also placed under Supervision for 18 months, the normal sentence for the possession of illegal guns was a minimum of five years.

But he said he accepted Gilbert was a genuine collector who had held a firearms certificate for many years and co-operated fully with inspections carried out by police.

The Judge told Gilbert he accepted he had acquired the prohibited weapons as job lots and added, "You were not aware of the requirements to inform police."

The court was told Gilbert had done a great deal of charity work and helped ex-servicemen and the banned guns were kept as secure in his home as the weapons he was allowed to possess.

And, because of the "exceptional" circumstances in the case the Judge said he was able to steer away from an immediate jail term because there was little risk of harm from Gilbert, who was not “enjoying the best of health”.