Antique guns and ammo land man in court (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Antique guns and ammo land man in court

10:59am Wednesday 29th February 2012 in News By Paul Teed

A 44-year-old man was caught with a stash of unlicensed guns and ammunition when police raided his home, a court has heard.

Graham Creek was said to have kept bullets for his 19th century antique revolvers, which he was prohibited from shooting and could only legally own for his own “curiosity or ornamental purposes”. The UK Border Agency alerted police after intercepting a consignment of cartridge shells that Mr Creek allegedly ordered from America, the court was told.

Officers raided his parents’ home in Rose Croft Gardens, Twickenham, and his barge in Brentford, and seized his collection.

Mr Creek faced trial at Kingston Crown Court this week, where he denies four counts of possessing a prohibited firearm and two counts of possessing a firearm without a certificate.

Christopher Coltart, prosecuting, claimed police found during their search on September 6 last year a selection of guns, including two ornate 19th century revolvers, illegal hollow-nosed bullets, bags containing lead balls, cartridges, gunpowder and a shoulder holster.

He said Mr Creek, who has pleaded guilty to possessing some of the items, had a shotgun licence but did not have a certificate for handguns, although he could own the old weapons if he qualified under an antiques exemption. He told the jury: “The only issue in this case is whether these were properly held for curiosity or ornamental purposes, or whether in fact Mr Creek had some intention of using these firearms, even if only for non-criminal purposes, whether it be target practice or historical re-enactment. “All these weapons were in working order and were potentially lethal.”

Officers found correspondence that showed Mr Creek regularly bought firearms and gun parts from antiques dealers.

The court heard he told trader Kevin Andrews that he wanted to fire his old weapons, but Mr Andrews warned him this would be illegal and he needed to join an authorised club.

Mr Creek told police in a prepared statement that he had been collecting guns since he was a boy and he believed possessing lead balls and black powder was legal.

He said he hoped to join the Muzzle Loaders Association and shoot his antique firearms at the National Shooting Centre in Bisley, Surrey. He would never use the weapons for committing crime, he added. The trial continues.