Bellingham Man Claims Firearms Found Were for Home Decoration
A Bellingham man insists that the firearms discovered were intended solely as home decor, not for use.
Bellingham, Northumberland, Firearms, Court, Decor
Bellingham: So, there’s this guy named Ian Richard Bell who got into a bit of trouble recently. He was driving his Range Rover when he got into a crash on December 22, 2023. Both he and the other driver were stuck in their cars and needed help from the emergency services.
After the accident, the police breathalyzed him, and surprise, he blew positive for alcohol. They arrested him right then and there. The prosecutor, Deborah Smithies, mentioned that this was his first drink-driving conviction.
But here’s where it gets interesting. When the police checked his car, they found a firearm that looked like a pistol. It turned out to be an old, authentic piece, but it was dirty and hadn’t been used in ages. They didn’t find any ammo, though.
The next day, they searched his home in Bellingham and found four shotguns mounted on the wall. Two of those needed a license, and the revolver was considered a prohibited weapon. Bell admitted to having them but claimed he didn’t know he needed a license. He said they were just for decoration in his new home.
He explained that a friend had given him the weapons as gifts to match the decor of his farmhouse-style cottage. Bell even mentioned that he didn’t really want the pistol but took it to be polite.
In court, he pleaded guilty to possessing the shotguns without a license and having a prohibited weapon. His lawyer, Susan Hurst, argued that Bell had been a good guy until this incident and that he was misled by his friend about the licensing requirements.
The judge, Nathan Adams, seemed to understand Bell’s situation. He acknowledged that Bell thought the firearms were antiques meant for display. Instead of a harsh sentence, he gave Bell an 18-month community order and 200 hours of unpaid work.
As Bell left the courtroom, the judge reminded him that this experience would surely impact him and his family. He also had to pay £1,000 in court costs, and the police would destroy the seized weapons.