Alexandra Scott’s Client Acquitted of Firearms Offences.

Alexandra Scott’s client was charged with a number of firearms offences relating to shotguns and pistols found at his home address in 2020.  Convictions for the pistols  – a .230” rimfire, a .22” pocket revolver and a .22” pocket pistol – would have attracted the mandatory minimum term of five years’ imprisonment. The defendant pleaded guilty to having two shotguns and a significant amount of ammunition without a certificate, but advanced the defence that the three pistols recovered were antiques and held as curiosities and ornaments, a defence that was available as these events had taken place before the amendments to the legislation introduced by the Policing and Crime Act 2017 were brought into force in 2021.

The trial involved evidence from two firearms experts as to the nature and viability of the pistols and their component parts, and whether the modern ammunition recovered could and should be discharged from the pocket pistol.  The Judge directed ‘not guilty’ verdicts on two of the counts at the conclusion of the evidence, and the jury acquitted of the final count.

Alexandra was instructed by Paul Robinson of Goldkorns Solicitors.