A young man who worked his way up to become manager of a Boreham leisure and field sports shop was in the wrong job, a court heard.

Christopher Orriss had served a custodial sentence meaning he was barred from possessing firearms or ammunition within five years of his release, Emma King, prosecuting, told Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday.

Orriss, 23, of Park View Crescent, Gt. Baddow, admitted two charges each of possessing a prohibited weapon and ammunition and possessing cocaine and cannabis.

Judge David Pearl jailed Orriss for a year and said, "Firearms and drugs are a dangerous combination."

Miss King said Orriss was at Braintree police station in January last year on an unrelated matter and had some cocaine and cannabis.

Further enquiries led police to the field sport shop in Boreham. Orriss was looking after the shop and he was arrested for being in possession of prohibited weapons during the duration of his ban imposed on his release from custody.

Timothy Godfrey, mitigating, said Orriss knew he should not work with guns but did not think air weapons were dangerous weapons. He had discussed the ban with his employer.

Before his arrest he had been made shop manager . The shop closed down after he left and he had since been working as a labourer. He had no ulterior motive or criminal intent. The drugs were for himself.

Published Tuesday, January 21, 2003

Brought to you by the Essex Chronicle