Holidaymaker Caught At Heathrow With Antique Gun Is Sentenced

An Eastbourne holidaymaker, caught with a gun in his luggage as he tried to board a flight to Thailand, received a suspended prison sentence yesterday.

House clearer Mark Ratcliffe, 52, of Royal Parade, claims he found the firearm in a property he was emptying and forgot it was in his bag.

He pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to unlawfully possessing a prohibited firearm, namely a .32 inch Gate Loading Revolver, at Heathrow's Terminal Three on Christmas Eve, last year.

The offence carries a five-year statutory minimum sentence except in exceptional circumstances and Ratcliffe even had the sentencing date delayed so he could give away his sister at her wedding, such was the likelihood of custody.

He received two years imprisonment, suspended for twenty-four months, was ordered to complete 300 hours community service work and pay £300 costs and a £120 victim surcharge.

Prosecutor Mr. Douglas Adams said: “The defendant was at Heathrow Airport and was going to Thailand for a holiday for a month when his hand luggage was searched and the firearm found.

“He said that his job is to clear houses and he found the item in a property and kept it at his business premises.

“He was anxious about leaving it there because he was going away on holiday and he put it in a bag and forgot it was there.

“He said he thought it was an old deactivated firearm.”

The defence claim the gun is probably around one hundred years-old, with the model's first year of manufacture dating back to 1894.

“It is almost beyond belief that somebody would deliberately take it to an airport with the security that is there now,” said Mr. Steven Pidcock, defending.

“A firearms expert concluded it is one hundred years-old, the ammunition is obsolete, but unfortunately for Mr. Ratcliffe there is modern ammunition to fit it.

“A possible defence could be to argue it is an antique or curio, but it is unlikely a court would find that.

“Mr. Ratcliffe does accept possession of it, but we will argue these offence comes under exceptional circumstances and it would be unfair to impose the minimum five-year sentence.”

The court heard the gun was in “very poor condition” and required attention before it could be fired.

“There is no suggestion this was to export for financial gain,” added Mr. Pidcock.