Has England really become this ridiculous?

Yes, it seems to be more to it..

I've been reading here and it appears to be a lot more controversial..

It is disturbing that a former soldier is to receive up to five years jail time for turning the gun he found into the police. It would appear that doing the right thing was wrong. This story affects me personally.
My nephew, of St. Leonard's on Sea, Sussex was sentenced to five years in prison when a gun was found on his property. He had no knowledge of its existence. Neither his finger prints or his DNA were found on the gun though the prints of another individual were. The gun would appear to have been planted. My nephew with little doubt, is certain who put it there. I cannot help but think the law is unjust in both these cases. Yes, there was clearly possession of the guns but was clearly not the intent to use them. Neither of these men were given due process. What happened to innocent until proven guilty? The way these cases have been handled is appalling. Were I living in England still I would crusade for these young men.

A discussion forum, now that's authoratative.

I agree. There are too many questions:

1. I wonder why he said he didn't know what to do - he's a soldier, is he not? And 27, not a child. Surely he must have some common sense.

2. And why wait till the next day? And why call the Chief Supt? Wouldn't you just call 911?

3. And why did he touch it?

I'd have looked in the bag, called the cops, and waited for them to show up.

I wonder if he's 'known to the police'.

Even so, if there is no more than that, do you think he deserves a jail sentence?

Even so, if there is no more than that, do you think he deserves a jail sentence?

I would think that a reasonable citizen, finding an abandoned firearm,
would think that it might have been discarded by a criminal.

Further, reasonable citizens should know not to disturb evidence any more than necessary.

He should have called the cops and said "someone abandoned a gun on my property;
what should I do with it?"

Taking a firearm to a police station is just dumb.

For all we know, he's the guy the cops suspect of the crime,
and this is a way to get him off the streets.

DrewDad wrote:

Quote:

I would think that a reasonable citizen, finding an abandoned firearm,
would think that it might have been discarded by a criminal.

So WHAT?? Its a SHOTGUN; it cannot be identified to any shooting; its smoothbore.

That 's true; he shud have kept it for his own use
or just thrown it away. Instead, he got an expensive lesson in trusting English police.
He ' ll have a long time to consider the wisdom thereof.

Brandon9000 wrote:

Even so, if there is no more than that, do you think he deserves a jail sentence?

Five years minimum - says the law.

Brandon9000 wrote:

Even so, if there is no more than that, do you think he deserves a jail sentence?

i think that's the question, if

he's had at least one other run in that made the newspapers and went to trial, it's possible he's well known to the cops

I would think that a reasonable citizen, finding an abandoned firearm, would think that it might have been discarded by a criminal. Further, reasonable citizens should know not to disturb evidence any more than necessary.

He should have called the cops and said "someone abandoned a gun on my property; what should I do with it?"

Taking a firearm to a police station is just dumb.

For all we know, he's the guy the cops suspect of the crime, and this is a way to get him off the streets.

I said "deserves." I asked if it was fair, not for someone to quote the law.