Man jailed after being found with air pistol

Daniel Bellamy was considered for a community order but was sent to prison after refusing to cooperate with West Yorkshire Probation Service, Kirklees Magistrates’ Court heard.

The 21-year-old was seen by a member of staff at Dewsbury Bus Station with the small black pistol at around 10pm on February 19.

He was arrested in Church Street where he also confessed to having cannabis in his bag.

Prosecuting, Ben Smith said Bellamy told officers he was returning the gun, which was unloaded, to a friend.

He added that it was an offence for Bellamy to possess an air weapon within five years of his release from a young offenders institution last June.

After Bellamy pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis, possessing an air weapon in a public place when he was prohibited and failing to surrender to bail, on March 4, magistrates adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

However the 21-year-old was 45 minutes late for an appointment with the probation service and the report was not completed, the court heard.

Mitigating, Carl Kingsley said Bellamy, who was living in London Park estate in Mirfield but is now homeless, was only ten minutes late but the probation officer refused to see him. He added that Bellamy would no longer cooperate with the probation service.

Bellamy was jailed for 16 weeks. The air pistol and cannabis will be destroyed.