A judge has demanded an explanation from Scotland Yard after they failed to tell Bradford police about an unemployed man who repeatedly ordered prohibited weapons over the internet.

Thomas Craddock purchased what Judge James Stewart QC described as "an arsenal of weapons'' from a French website.

Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday Scotland Yard failed to pass on information from Customs officers, who had seized guns and ammunition intended for the 23-year-old's home in Undercliffe Old Road.

Prosecutor Mushtaq Khokhar explained how a Bradford officer had warned Craddock about potentially illegal activities after a package addressed to him containing five illegal pepper sprays was intercepted during a random check by Customs officers in November 2002.

At the time Craddock denied any knowledge of the sprays, but the court heard that three more packages were intercepted in February and June 2003.

Judge Stewart said he was "staggered" no one visited Craddock again until 2004.

Mr Khokhar said Customs officers had notified Scotland Yard about the seizures, but it appeared there was no communication with local police.

"I need an explanation from Scotland Yard as to the scant disregard which appears to have been given to what this court regards as serious offences,'' said Judge Stewart.

When police finally searched Craddock's home they found packaging from at least 17 stun guns and instruction manuals.

Police also discovered a catalogue from the French company as well as books about guns and a board in the attic which had marks on it indicating that it had been used as a target.

When Craddock's computer was examined he was found to have done a computer search for "sawn-off shotgun barrels'' just a few days before his arrest.

Mr Khokhar said the former roofer's credit card statements revealed payments to the French company.

In total Craddock was said to have ordered 23 electroshock Scorpion Power, 200 stun guns along with more than a 1,000 rounds of .22 ammunition, a 9mm Goliath blank-firing handgun, a Walther P22 blank-firing handgun, ten CS gas sprays and five Sabre Red pepper sprays between November 2002 and December 2003.

Mr Khokhar confirmed none of the weapons or ammunition had been found at his home.

Last month Craddock pleaded guilty to 13 charges of attempting to fraudulently evade the prohibition on the importation of the items. Yesterday he was jailed for five years.

Judge Stewart described the delay in passing on information to Bradford police as "wholly inexcusable''.

Craddock's barrister Stephen Wood stressed there was no evidence of the items being passed on to criminals. He pointed out the goods had been ordered in Craddock's own name, using his credit card and home address.

"You imported an arsenal of weapons. Not only weapons but also ammunition," Judge Stewart told Craddock.

"I have to look at the nature of the weapons and risk to the public if they are disseminated. These weapons were in fact disseminated. Not one was recovered."