Teen hid shotgun in wardrobe

A YOUNG woman has been jailed for four years after she hid a 12-bore sawn-off shotgun in her wardrobe.

Jennifer Robinson told stunned officers she was looking after the weapon for a friend.

Earlier, as police arrested her for burglary and criminal damage at a hostel last July, she said she wanted to get her shoes from her room.

"She said, 'if you go in there, I might as well tell you there is a shotgun in there inside a wardrobe'," said prosecutor Mark Knowles.

Robinson, 19, of no fixed address, was on bail for burgling the home of Joseph Cooper in Barkla Close, Clifton, last May. She stole jewellery and his late father's Army medals.

After the sentencing Mr Cooper, 72, said: "I'm pleased with the sentence and glad she is going to prison. She is evil.

"I haven't got my dad's medals back and that's still upsetting.

"I'd had them for years and they were sentimental."

At Nottingham Crown Court, she was sentenced to four years for having the gun, three years for Mr Cooper's burglary, 12 months for a burglary in a room at the hostel and two months for damaging property, all to run concurrently.

She asked for six more offences of house burglary, between 2006 and 2009, to be taken into consideration. She admitted all the charges. The court heard the gun was in Robinson's care for several days. Traces of gunshot residue indicated the gun had been fired.

Judge Michael Stokes QC said: "Given its condition, I can't find any lawful reason for firing it, other than testing it to commit a criminal offence."

Emma Coverley, in mitigation, described Robinson as a "custodian" of the weapon for a scared friend who was arrested during the inquiry.

Robinson provided a statement to police in relation to the woman, but she had denied everything in the statement.

The Crown Prosecution Service offered no evidence against her, the court heard.

The single-barrel weapon was concealed in bin bags and had not been touched or moved.

"Had she not mentioned this to police, they may not have found it themselves," said Miss Coverley. "Her friend was scared, in tears, felt threatened."

rebecca.sherdley@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk