A DRUG dealer has been warned he faces a substantial prison sentence for stashing an Uzi sub-machine gun behind the fireplace of his suburban home.

Christopher Haslam, aged 45, stored the deadly weapon wrapped in a cloth in his lounge at his terraced house in St Thomas Street, Bolton.

The 45-year-old was due to be sentenced yesterday, but a judge adjourned the matter after hearing police still need to conduct DNA and fingerprint analysis of the firearm.

Judge Richard Gioserano said it was crucial to know whether Haslam’s fingerprints are on the body and especially the trigger of the gun, which can fire multiple rounds in a single burst.

Prosecutor Brian Berlyne told the court: “The gun was received at the laboratory of the firearms expert on October 21. There was a delay unfortunately. The turnaround for an examination of the firearms and the preparation of a report is 14 to 21 days, from October 21.

Mr Berlyne said: “The defendant has admitted concealing the firearm himself behind his fireplace. We simply don’t know whether it was operational or not.”

Darren Preston, for Haslam, said his client wished to be sentenced as soon as possible.

Mr Preston said: “He admits handling the firearm although it was wrapped in cloth.

“He was told to store the firearm and did so.

“He knew it was a firearm but had no idea it was real.

“The firearm was submitted for analysis two weeks after this defendant pleaded guilty.

“That was six or seven weeks ago.

“Quite what it’s been doing for those six or seven weeks, we don’t know. Not much, it seems.”

Haslam was arrested following a police raid at 5.50am on September 16.

He pleaded guilty earlier last month to possession of a firearm, two counts of possession of ammunition, two of possession of class A drugs with intent to supply — namely cocaine and heroin — and one of producing 18 cannabis plants.

Mr Berlyne said: “The police have arranged for fingerprint analysis of the safe and the drug packaging. The defendant’s fingerprints were found on the outside, not on the inside.”

Haslam told police the reason traces of his hands were on the bags containing the drugs is because he allowed criminal associates to use bags from his kitchen cupboards to pack the narcotics.

Adjourning the case until Monday, Judge Gioserano told Haslam: “It’s inevitable there is going to be a long sentence, whatever the basis.

“We do need to know whether this firearm was in working order or not.”