A WHITEHAVEN man has pleaded guilty to illegally hoarding ammunition and weapons parts without a licence.

During a 20-minute hearing at Carlisle Crown Court, sixty-three-year-old Simon William Churchman entered guilty pleas to all of the charges that he faced under the Firearms Act.

All but one of the charges - arising from a discovery made on March 2 in Whitehaven - relate to him possessing 41 ammunition pieces, as well as weapon parts, without a firearms licence.

The defendant, of Kinniside Avenue, admitted a total of 25 charges, which included illegally possessing:

* Five items of .380 revolver ammunition.

* One .22 Winchester magnum ammunition.

* Nine rounds of .22 short ammunition.

* Seven 9mm parabellum ammunition.

* Two .44 Rem Magnum ammunition.

* And nine rounds of .22 short ammunition.

The final charge he admitted was that he illegally had in his possession the component parts of a Mauser M98 7.92 rifle.

Prosecutor Jacob Dyer told the court that the defendant had told police that he had possession of the illegal ammunition over a period of years.

After legal discussions, Recorder Andrew Nuttall granted Churchman bail and adjourned sentencing until September 16.

In the meantime, the defendant was granted bail on condition that he continues to live and sleep each night at his current address, with the exception of August 2 and 3 for legal reasons.