Shocked Leeds resident found deadly sawn-off shotgun and ammunition hidden in outbuilding at her home in Woodhouse

A resident on Servia Gardens, Woodhouse, made the alarming discovery when she went to check the electrical box outside her property.

Leeds Crown Court heard the woman found a bag which contained a swan-off Browning shotgun hidden in a crevice in the outbuilding.

Imran Khan, prosecuting, said police forensic officers examined the weapon and found Levi Paterson's DNA on the trigger.

Peterson was arrested and refused to comment when questioned about the gun.

At the time of the discovery, September 20 last year, Paterson was on bail awaiting sentence for two offences of robbery.

The two victims had travelled to Leeds by train and were targeted on Crown Street, near to the Corn Exchange.

One of the victims was told he would be stabbed before being ordered to take off designer clothing worth £1,700 that he was wearing.

Clothing included a Moncler coat and Valentino trainers.

The second victim was robbed of his iPhone and a Versace bag.

The attackers mocked the victims and later posted the mobile phone footage on Snapchat in a bid to humiliate them further.

Paterson, 18, of Westbourne Street, Hunslet, pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited firearm and two offences of robbery.

Richard Holland, mitigating, said Paterson was 16 at the time of the robbery offences and 17 at the time of the firearm offence.

Peterson was sent to a young offender institution for four years.

After the case, DCI Vanessa Rolfe of West Yorkshire Police's Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: “We welcome the sentencing of this male today after he admitted the possession of a lethal weapon recovered by officers in September last year.

“I hope this sentence demonstrates that those who are prepared to involve themselves in firearms offending in any way should expect to be deprived of their liberty.

“Criminals should also be aware that if they risk handling an illegal gun, there is every chance we will uncover your connection to it and put you before the courts.”