Copford pensioner hoarded hundreds of firearms at home

David Cole, 74, was arrested after officers seized hundreds of firearms from his properties in Hugh Dickson Road, Colchester, and London Road, Copford, in June 2019.

At a previous hearing at Ipswich Crown Court in May, the pensioner admitted possessing a shotgun without a certificate, possessing a firearm without a firearms certificate, two charges of possessing a prohibited smooth-bore gun, and possessing a knife in public.

The court heard he has a gun hoarding disorder and had the firearms “strewn” across his homes for about half a century.

The shotgun and firearm which he needed certificates for were found hidden in Cole’s loft wrapped in plastic bags by police officers in June 2019. They were, however, both deactivated.

Hugh Vass, prosecuting, said: “He used to have a shotgun licence, but it was cancelled in 2014.

“On June 11, 2019, police officers entered his London Road house due to welfare concerns raised by a third party.

“Officers attended his Hugh Dickson Road home and seized firearms from the loft.”

Police search the Copford house

Cyrus Shroff, mitigating, previously told the court Cole saw the guns as memorabilia he had collected over the decades.

Mr Shroff said: “There was no concerns over any familiarity with organised crime or selling them on the black web.

“He also once had a shotgun certificate and the two guns in questions were hidden in his loft for about 25 years.

“They were wrapped up to preserve their condition because he cared for them. His hoarding is an unusual characteristic.”

Adjourning the case in May, Judge Emma Peters said she needed to get a greater understanding of Cole before passing sentence.

Appearing at the same court on Wednesday, Cole received a two-year suspended term of imprisonment and was ordered to complete a 30 day rehabilitation activity requirement.

His entire collection of firearms must be forfeited and he was ordered to pay £2,000 in court costs.