Jail for man who hid shotgun in mum's Higham Ferrers kitchen

A man who hid a sawn-off shotgun in his mother's kitchen has been sent to a young offenders' institution for five years.

Stephen Howard, 19, from Higham Ferrers in Northamptonshire, was arrested after police found the shotgun in a sports bag.

His mother was charged with permitting the production of cannabis in her home.

Northamptonshire Police said drugs and weapons were "a very dangerous combination".

Northampton Crown Court heard police searched Howard's home in The Hedges and recovered a sawn-off shotgun from a kitchen cupboard.

They also found a large Rambo- or zombie-type knife in a backpack in his bedroom, along with a number of cannabis plants.

Howard was charged with possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of an offensive weapon and the production and supply of cannabis.

Howard's mother, Louise Elford, 43, was charged with permitting the production of cannabis at her home and was given a six-month conditional discharge at the same court in December.

Howard changed his plea to guilty on all charges and was sentenced earlier this month.

Det Con Ali Ashford from Northamptonshire Police said: "Stephen Howard made the decision to arm himself, either for protection or intimidation of others, with an illegal firearm.

"He also had another prohibited weapon in the form of a so-called zombie knife, which was also of significant concern to us as it had both sharp and serrated edges which would have easily made it deadly.

"Drug supply and weapons is a very dangerous combination, and there is no legitimate reason for anyone to have guns or knives such as these other than to cause fear or injury to others."

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