A man caught minding a Skorpion sub-machine gun and more than 140 rounds of ammunition has been jailed.
Liverpool Crown Court heard how officers discovered the lethal weapon in the airing cupboard of Paul Cox's home. A large number of rounds of ammunition were found alongside the weapon.
A live hand grenade was also recovered when police raided the 59-year-old's house in Netherby Street, Dingle, but he was cleared by a jury of possessing an unlawful explosive substance for an unlawful purpose after a trial.
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The jury were not satisfied he knew the grenade was in his home. He pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited weapon, the Skorpion gun, and the ammunition.
Martin Reid, prosecuting, said police went to the defendant’s home on September 19 last year and in the airing cupboard found a Tupperware container inside a pillow case. Inside it was the sub-machine gun, capable of being fired in semi-automatic and automatic mode, and a number of loaded magazines.
The package also contained rounds of ammunition, most of which were viable and suitable for use in the weapon. A total of more than 100 rounds were found.
Mr Reid said: “While he may not have intended to use it he was reckless whether it would have been used for illicit purposes. It could not have been used by anyone other than serious criminals.”
Mr Reid said it was accepted that Cox's role was “as a custodian.”
The court heard Cox has nine convictions for 14 offences including dishonesty and cultivating cannabis but has never been jailed.
Brendan Carville, defending, said Cox was “a loner with a serious drink problem who suffers from epilepsy. He was the sort of man who could fall prey to those more sophisticated in crime.”
Mr Carville said he has had a “torrid time” while on remand in custody. For the first four days he was not medicated for his epilepsy and alcohol problems and fell from an upper bunk breaking his neck and wrist.
Prior to his trial he suffered a blood clot on his lung and it was “touch and go” if he survived. When he was returned to prison he was sent “to the block” for two weeks as he failed a drug test and it was only later realised that was because he had been given morphine while in hospital.
Sentencing Cox to five years in prison on Monday, May 14, Judge Brian Cummings, KC said a total of 149 rounds of ammunition were found at his home, including 61 loose rounds found on a shelf.
Judge Cummings said: “You were reckless whether it would be used for criminal purposes. And what else should it have been used for?”
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