A MECHANIC who hid illegal weapons and ammunition and grew cannabis in his home has been jailed.

Simon Robert Richard Maving, 45, pleaded guilty to possessing a bolt-action rifle and possession of an air rifle without having a firearms certificate for either of them.

He also admitted having .22 ammunition without a certificate.

The Recorder of York, Judge Paul Batty QC, was told police found 66 rounds of .22 ammunition hidden in Maving’s fireplace.

Cannabis and dealing paraphernalia were also found at Maving’s home in Ings Garth, Pickering.

Christopher Dunn, for Maving, told York Crown Court: “This was not a case where the defendant is getting caught with a small, easily concealable, self-loading pistol.

“This was a defendant who goes out rabbiting in the fields of Pickering and has a fascination with firearms of that type, rather than somebody who is a danger.”

Judge Batty accepted the weapons were not connected to Maving’s cannabis production, but said: “Those who possess lethal weapons can expect custodial sentences.”

He said: “You were saying the guns were simply for ornamental purposes, but the ammunition gave the lie to that and you only admitted knowledge of the ammunition on the very morning of your trial.

“The fact of the matter is that they were nevertheless in the place where your cannabis growing was taking place, along with ammunition which was capable of being fired.

“I am afraid context in this case is very much against you as you were involved in illegal activity in that house, where you kept firearms and ammunition.”

For the three firearms offences, Maving was sentenced to 12 months, and for cannabis production, he was sentenced to three months, to be served concurrently.