Pictured: Guns seized from Colchester and Copford homes

Essex Police have unveiled the astonishing arsenal of more than 500 weapons seized from 74-year-old David Cole's properties in Colchester and Copford.

On Tuesday, June 11, 2019, officers responded to reports of concern for the welfare Cole.

When officers entered Cole’s home in London Road, Copford, to check on him, they discovered more than 500 firearms and ammunitions stored throughout the property.

The arsenal of weaponry ranged from pistols to a rocket propelled grenade

Cole approached officers outside of the house shortly after and was arrested.

Further enquiries led officers to a second address belonging to Cole in Hugh Dickson Road, Colchester.

This property had also been used to store weapons, including two smooth-bore shotguns prohibited under the Firearms Act 1968, hidden in the rafters of the loft.

David Cole, of London Road, Copford, plead guilty to two counts of possessing a prohibited self-loading/pump action smooth bore gun, one count of possessing a shotgun without a certificate, one count of possessing a firearm without a certificate and one count of possessing a knife blade in a public place.

Dozens of rifles were seized, alongside old musket-style guns

He was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court on Wednesday, December 8, and received a two-year suspended sentence.

Read more: Pensioner who hoarded hundreds of guns in two homes avoids prison term

He was ordered to pay £2,000 in court costs and must complete 30 rehabilitation days.

A Forfeiture and Destruction of Weapons Order was issued for the remaining weapons and munitions seized, requiring that they be destroyed.

The haul included old muskets alongside more modern high caliber military-grade weaponry.

The collection included heavy machine guns and rocket launchers

Investigating officer DC Michael Heslegrave said: “Owning prohibited weapons and those that have not been de-activated to the required standard is not only illegal, but extremely dangerous.

“In this case, the firearms seized were not loaded and there was no suggestion that they were owned for any reason other than as collectors’ items, but in the wrong hands, they were capable of inflicting serious injury.

“The firearms found were also incorrectly stored, meaning that an unsuspecting person, or even Mr Cole himself, could have been injured accidentally should they have been loaded.

“The legislations and detailed licensing required to own any firearm are there for a reason and safeguard not only the public, but owners themselves.

“Please do your research before purchasing a firearm of any kind and contact your local Firearms Enquiry Officer, the Firearms Licensing Department or a registered firearms dealer to seek further advice.”

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