A gun enthusiast who sparked off a major police operation has been jailed for three years.

David Goodyear, 40, was found in possession of a homemade "zip gun'' and six hollow-point bullets when police arrested him at Kysor Cooling Systems in Bradford last April.

Bradford Crown Court heard that when officers searched Goodyear's home in Carr House Lane, Wyke, they recovered more than 900 rounds of ammunition, two revolvers and another handgun.

Prosecutor Howard Crowson revealed that Goodyear had also rigged up his garage workshop with a theatrical explosive device and a bomb expert had to be called in to deal with it.

Goodyear, a former armourer in the Army, pleaded guilty to illegally possessing firearms and ammunition. He also admitted possessing the zip gun and ammunition in a public place.

Mr Crowson said an expert had described the zip gun as something which worked extremely well and could be fired with lethal potential.

The court heard that in November 1993 Goodyear was jailed for three months for possessing firearms and ammunition illegally.

Judge Ian Dobkin noted that at the time of that sentence Goodyear would have been warned he could not possess similar items for the next five years.

Goodyear claimed to have taken most of the ammunition and the zip gun from youths on the estate, but Judge Dobkin criticised the lack of security at his home.

"You know from all the recent publicity in this country that the public are very concerned indeed about the use or possession of firearms by people who are not permitted to do so,'' he said.

Goodyear's barrister Sean Morris stressed his client had not possessed the items for any sinister purpose and he said most of the items could be obtained legally from regularly-held fairs around the country.

He said his client had been brought up with guns and had continued his interest in all forms of weaponry since leaving the army in 1983. Mr Morris said Goodyear's fascination and hobby had got him into trouble and since being locked up in April he had lost his home and his job.

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