Court of Appeal rules in firearms case

The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal brought by the Crown Prosecution Service relating to the definition of prohibited firearm under the Firearms Act 1968.

The trial judge, sitting at Swindon Crown Court had ruled that a high powered air pistol was none the less an air weapon and so not prohibited under section 5 (1) aba of the Firearms Act 1968.

The Court of Appeal has reversed that ruling as being wrong in law. All such high powered air pistols are now therefore prohibited and the five year minimum sentence will apply absent exceptional circumstances.

Matthew Butt was instructed by the CPS appeals unit in the appeal.

9th December 2014