MAN, 77, CAUGHT WITH 13 GUNS DURING SEX OFFENCES INVESTIGATION
A 77-year-old man was found in possession of a large collection of 13 antique firearms when police arrived at his residence.The officers discovered this stash during an investigation into David Johnson for sexual offenses.
His collection included nine muskets, along with three pistols and a revolver.
Although these firearms were not illegal due to their age, Johnson was previously barred from owning such weapons because of a prior conviction for a heinous knifepoint rape.
Liverpool Crown Court heard this afternoon, Wednesday, that police executed a search warrant at Johnson's home on Mill Lane in Wavertree on May 28 of the previous year.
During the search, officers seized three mobile phones and two storage cards containing a total of 1,528 indecent images of children.
Nardeen Nemat, the prosecutor, outlined how this disturbing collection included 858 videos and 251 photographs classified as category A, which depict the most severe abuse against girls as young as four.
Additionally, 412 videos and 206 pictures were classified as category B, with 262 movies and 129 photographs falling into category C.
Johnson was also found to have collected five extreme pornographic images, involving sexual acts with animals such as horses and dogs.
The police then proceeded to find the firearms scattered across his living room and bedroom.
The firearms collection consisted of two double-barrelled self-loading pistols, a single-barrelled pistol, a revolver, a musket with Martini action, two muskets converted from other types, a double-barrelled musket, and five other muskets.
None of these firearms were test-fired because of their age and the lack of compatible ammunition, though an expert confirmed that there was "nothing mechanically to stop the firearms from working." Some of the guns were deemed to be in "good condition," while others were found to be poorly maintained.
All of these weapons were manufactured before 1939, making them legal to possess without a license if kept for "curiosity or decoration." However, Johnson is legally prohibited from owning such firearms due to his 1997 conviction for rape.
That conviction stemmed from him grabbing a woman from behind as she walked home, threatening her at knifepoint, dragging her to a secluded area, and forcing her to undress and sexually assault her.
He was sentenced to seven years in prison after being linked to the assault through DNA evidence.
Judge Simon Medland KC also ordered Johnson to complete up to 20 days of rehabilitation activities, imposed a £1,000 fine, issued a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, and instructed him to register as a sex offender for the next decade.
