A WEAPONS enthusiast has been warned he is at risk of a long jail sentence after he was caught trading in potentially lethal pistols.

Michael Ward’s home in Winkleigh was searched by police after one of four pistols which he sent to a fellow collector were intercepted in the post.

He was found with 17 starter pistols, three high powered air rifles, and 700 rounds of home made ammunition and told police he thought what he was doing was harmless.

The blank firing pistols could also fire flares and could be converted into real, bullet-firing guns by anyone who had the necessary expertise and equipment.

Ward bought the four pistols on the internet on behalf of a man in Hartlepool who he did not know other than through e-mail exchanges.

He believed him to be a fellow weapons enthusiast but had no way of knowing what was going to happen to  the guns.

Ward, aged 60, who now lives in Holsworthy, admitted transferring a firearm, and possession of three air rifles and 700 rounds of ammunition without a certificate.

Judge Timothy Rose adjourned his case at Exeter Crown Court because he was not legally represented. He asked the police to find out more information about the man who bought the pistols.

He told him the offences were serious because the guns were capable of being converted into lethal weapons and could have found their way into the hands of criminals.

The judge told him:’No-one knows if these guns have been converted and are on the streets being used to commit serious crimes. The risk of you losing your liberty is very, very considerable indeed.

‘They were potentially lethal firearms and there is evidence of manufacturing 700 live rounds. You deny being a dealer and say you are an enthusiast who was thinking of applying for a firearms licence.

‘I do not think you appreciate the seriousness of the position in which you find yourself. A very serious prison sentence is the most likely outcome.’

William Hunter, prosecuting, said Ward had 17 blank firing pistols and three air rifles which had such a high muzzle velocity they needed a firearms certificate.

The police became involved when one of the pistols which he sent to a contact in Hartlepool was intercepted at an airport. His home in Winkleigh was searched.

Ward, who represented himself, said: ‘I thought they were just starting guns which fired blanks. The business about converting them to handguns was only theoretically possible.

‘I just had a collection of starting guns. This man got in touch and said he was also a collector.

‘He would make payments and I would place the order for him.

‘I made the ammunition because in 2011 I was considering buying a rifle and got the equipment to make bullets.’

The judge released Ward on bail so he could appear again when he is represented.