A FIFTY-NINE-year-old Carlisle man has been fined after he admitted two counts of illegally possessing firearms.

Mark Nicholas Day, of Welsh Road, Harraby, pleaded guilty to two offences committed between August 6 and August 8 last year.

The city’s Rickergate Magistrates’ Court heard that the two offences were both committed at Blackburn, Lancashire.

The first involved him having possession of a BB gun, identified as a Cybergun Sig Sauer 516, .177” steel carbon dioxide rifle.

The second offence involved a Walther CP 88, .177” carbon dioxide pistol.

Imposing a £140 fine on the defendant, the presiding magistrate told the defendant: “There are a number of aggravating features of these offences: one is the violent nature of some of your previous convictions and that fact that you were on licence.”

The mitigating features included the defendant immediately disclosing to the police that he had the weapons. As well as fining him, magistrates said Day should pay a £32 victim surcharge and £85 prosecution costs. The two weapons involved would be forfeited to the police.

The charge says that the guns were illegal because five years had not elapsed since Day’s release from a jail term.