Man who kept US pistol is jailed

Andrew Richardson was jailed for three years at Norwich Crown Court

A man has been jailed for three years after a gun was found among his belongings shipped back from the USA.

Andrew Richardson, 49, of Wymondham in Norfolk, admitted possessing a revolver and ammunition.

Norwich Crown Court heard Richardson was given the gun to kill rattlesnakes when he was working in the USA and it was wrongly shipped to the UK in 1997.

The gun was found when the belongings were about to be auctioned by a storage firm after a dispute over payment.

When asked why he had not taken the revolver to the police, Richardson said: "I cannot tell you how many times I have asked that question.

"I suppose I was concerned about what the consequences might be."

Judge Peter Jacobs said Richardson had "buried his head in the sand".

In February Richardson was sentenced to five years in jail for the offences.

But the sentence was revoked earlier this month when Judge Jacobs ruled the proper legal process was not followed.

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