An explosives enthusiast caught with prohibited weapons and ammunition at his home has been jailed for five years.

Kevin Harrison, 63, a member of the UK Pyrotechnics Society and with an interest in making Rocket Candy, was today sentenced at Bradford Crown Court after pleading guilty to seven offences.

He had previous convictions for possession of a prohibited weapon in 1995 and 1996, the court heard.

Harrison, of Bowling Terrace, Skipton, was arrested on January 20 last year and interviewed by North East Counter Terrorism officers after items including a stun gun, a pneumatic air rifle and ammunition were seized from his home.

Prosecutor Tom Storey said Harrison had previously been warned about his possession of prohibited firearms and ammunition.

The court heard that flash powders and fuses found in Harrison’s possession showed he had an interest in explosives.

A stun gun disguised as a torch was seized from his loft and a pneumatic air rifle with a telescopic sight and a sound moderator, or silencer, was recovered from a bedroom.

Mr Storey said the rifle that discharged pellets was a ‘specially dangerous’ air weapon prohibited by the 1988 Firearms Act.

Also found was a 9mm blank firing pistol with cartridges, two cartridges containing pepper powder, and four .22 long rifle cartridges. A single shotgun shell had a prohibited lead ball projectile.

Harrison told the police he had an interest in making Rocket Candy and fireworks.

His barrister, Gerald Hendron, said the stun gun didn’t work. It was brought back from the United States by someone else and used as a torch.

The ammunition was dug up in a garden and he did not hand it in because he mistrusted the police.

Harrison bought the airgun from a reputable gun shop and had used it for hunting and target shooting. Many people in the United Kingdom bought and possessed prohibited air rifles that they believed were legal, Mr Hendron said.

Harrison was from a farming family and had legitimately possessed firearms until his convictions in 1995 and 1996.

He had forgotten about some of the items seized by the police and he was not aware that others were prohibited.

Mr Hendron said there were exceptional circumstances in the case that enabled the court not to impose the five-year mandatory minimum prison sentence applicable to three of the offences.

Harrison had many health problems and was the sole carer for his mother. He may be an eccentric but there had never been any suggestion that he was a risk to the public.

Recorder Peter Hampton said Harrison had an ongoing interest in explosives and firearms. He had been previously warned that any manufacture of explosives must take place at a licensed site.

The weapons and ammunition were not stored securely. They could have been stolen and found ‘a ready market’ with criminals.

Recorder Hampton said there were no exceptional circumstances and such cases called for a strong deterrent sentence.

He ordered forfeiture and destruction of all items seized by the police.