Jail for Medway man found with sawn-off shotgun
Police found the prohibited weapon in the loft of his home
Video footage has been released of the moment Kent Police officers discovered a sawn-off shotgun during searches of a man's home in Medway.
The prohibited weapon was discovered in the loft space of Robert Reading's home in Castle Street in Rochester in September 2022.
Police executed a warrant there as they had reason to believe Robert Reading had access to firearms.
The 50-year-old was immediately arrested and later charged with possession of a prohibited weapon.
He pleaded guilty to that offence and another investigated by the Metropolitan Police Service, and was sentenced to a total of six-and-a-half years’ imprisonment when he appeared at Inner London Crown Court on Wednesday (April 24th).
Investigating officer Detective Constable Mark Simcox of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said:
"Robert Reading admitted to having a fascination with firearms but that is no excuse for him having a sawn-off shotgun hidden in his home.
"The weapon was confirmed to be a working firearm that clearly had the potential to cause serious injury or death in the wrong hands, so it was imperative that it be removed from Reading’s possession and destroyed.
"Kent Police will always investigate when they receive information that someone may be in possession of a firearm to ensure potential victims and the wider general public are protected from harm."