Police found machine pistol and ammunition after going to report of domestic violence at house in Leeds

Officers found the weapon along with a magazine full of 20 bullets hidden inside a pillow case in the bedroom of the property on Town Street, Beeston.

Kevin Dempsey was jailed for five years after pleading guilty to possessing a prohibited weapon and possession of ammunition.

Leeds Crown Court heard police went to Dempsey's home at 7.55pm on March 4 this year after receiving a report of domestic violence at the address.

Robert Galley, prosecuting, said Dempsey's wife was at the property but the defendant was not there.

The officers went into the house to look for him and found the weapon and ammunition wrapped in a plastic bag inside a pillow case.

Mr Galley said the weapon was a Skorpion VZ.61 automatic machine pistol.

The prosecutor said the gun had initially been a blank firing pistol but it's barrel had been replaced in order to discharge ammunition.

The weapon was in working order and was capable of firing the ammunition.

Mr Galley said the gun's serial number had also been "obliterated".

Dempsey was arrested the next day at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Leeds city centre.

The defendant was interviewed and told officers he had the weapon to protect himself.

The 46-year-old grandfather said he kept the weapon and ammunition in his bedroom behind his headboard.

The court heard Dempsey has previous convictions for violence.

He was given a sentence of more than four years in prison in 1997 for wounding with intent.

Paul Hodgkinson, mitigating, said Dempsey had pleaded guilty to the offences at an early stage.

Mr Hodgkinson said his client had obtained the weapon after receiving threats but he had never used it or loaded the gun.

Sentencing Dempsey, Judge Andrew Stubbs QC said: "Your intention was to use it, if necessary, in a gun battle with a gang of other men who had been threatening you with knives and guns.

"You are well capable of forming an intention to harm really seriously.

"That is the intention, I am satisfied, with which you possessed this machine pistol."

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