Weapons collector who had pistol under his bed is jailed

William Hesketh, 58, was given a three-year-prison sentence at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday afternoon (January 22) as the judge reduced the normal minimum sentence due to the "exceptional circumstances".

Police had found the collection of weapons at Hesketh's home on Mill Lane, Sutton Leach on Tuesday, December 10, 2019. 

There were 176 weapons, which were mostly in his shed, included 57 firearms or air weapons; 40 large knives or machetes; 38 air pistols; 20 folding knives; 10 swords; three crossbows; two axes; two wooden handled flick knives; two knuckle dusters; a zombie knife and a Taser, many of the items legal.

However, Hesketh, who had previously been a victim of burglary, had kept a converted blank firing pistol under his bed, possession of which carries a minimum sentence of five years.   

The court heard Hesketh had "modified" the weapon but that this had been done in "an amateurish way" and therefore "not really capable of firing a missile in the normal way".

Judge Stuart Driver QC said: "You were the victim of a burglary at your home and that caused you to modify the firearm in question.

"You intended it to be capable of discharging, you loaded it with ammunition that you had made and kept it under your bed in fear of intruders.

"I can't accept that you had it truly to make a noise and to scare because you had other weapons that were capable of doing that.

"You intended it to be used if necessary to discharge improvised ammunition at an intruder.

"The aggravating factor here is that there isn't just one offence, there are also the other offences including two firearms and ammunition without a certificate."

The judge said he reduced the usual starting point of a five-year prison sentence due to Hesketh's early guilty pleas and said this was an "exceptional" case.

Hesketh (pitured) pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited firearm in relation the pistol.

He also pleaded guilty to two other counts of possession of a firearm; two counts of possession of ammunition without a certificate and three counts of possession of a weapon designed or adapted for the discharge of gas. 

Judge Driver added: "The firearm had never been used by you, you are of previous good character. In mitigation your physical and mental health mean custody would be very difficult for you. 

"I find that there are exceptional circumstances relating to the offence which justify not imposing the minimum term."

Defending, Gary Lawrenson, said Hesketh had physical and mental health issues. 

He said Hesketh has been registered disabled after falling on his face from a 37-feet height from a tree while retrieving a kite in front of his two children in 1992. 

"It is from that moment that his mental health issues began," Mr Lawrenson added, stating Hesketh had also lost his mum in 2017.

Mr Lawrenson added: "He spent most of his time isolated in his garden and pottering in his shed.

"It was his sanctuary, as was his house."