A man arrested in Swadlincote after a Police search of his car uncovered an illegal fire arm has been jailed for five years.

Kevin Chaderton, age 47 of Hartshorne Road, Woodville, was stopped by Swadlincote Police on Monday 23 February.

The officers had cause to search for a black Vauxhall Insignia that evening and upon Chaderton seeing the officers, he tried to close the front gates to the drive way while a woman he was with tried to get into the drivers seat.

Both were detained and upon searching the car, officers discovered a black revolver in the front footwell of the passenger seat.

They also found a tin of air cartridge pellets during the search.

During the roadside interview, Chaderton explained that the weapon was an air pistol with pellets and that the purpose of using them was 'shooting'.

He also confirmed he was the owner of the weapon.

Later, during the police interview, Chaderton replied no comment to all questions and was charged with being in possession of a prohibited weapon.

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He pleaded guilty to the charge and was jailed for five years during a sentencing hearing at Derby Crown Court on Friday 7 August.

Police Constable Thomas Langley, of the Swadlincote Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT), who led the investigation, said: "Illegal firearms obviously pose a serious risk to the safety of the public and we take such offences very seriously here in Derbyshire.

"In addition, the courts take a very dim view of offenders caught with such weapons – as this case shows.

"Anyone caught with an illegal firearm can expect to face the full force of the law and you could find yourself with a very lengthy jail sentence, much like Chaderton has."