Driver jailed for keeping shotgun in carboot

4:00pm Friday 8th August 2008

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A driver who kept a sawn off shotgun in the boot of his car to "protect" himself from a drug dealer has been jailed for five years.

Matthew Chesters, 22, of Clover Road, Timperley was arrested in May after police stopped his car in the Shaftsbury Road area following a tip off.

In the boot of the vehicle was a 12 bore shotgun and the barrel had been shortened.

At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester Chesters admitted possessing a prohibited firearm and was given the minimum jail term set down by law for firearms offences.

He claimed he owned debts to a drug dealer and need the gun to protect himself. But the court heard he had previous convictions including a knifepoint robbery.

Passing sentence Judge Leslie Hull told him: ""It is said you obtained this gun in order to protect yourself because you were in debt to a drug dealer.

"But there can be no legitimate use for such a weapon. It is obviously a weapon which would be extremely useful to any form of professional criminal."