A Bolton man has been given a lengthy jail sentence for possession of a firearm which he said he only had due to an interest.

Police raided the home of Craig Jeffrey in Westhoughton in November last year and found a self-loading pistol along with cartridges.

The weapon was used by the Belgian resistance in the Second World War.

He appeared at Manchester Minshull Street in relation to these offences.

The 34-year-old appeared alongside Kyle Rhodes for an incident in Oldham in May 2020.

The pair of them approached a vehicle on Turf Lane, Royton, being driven by a former partner of Rhodes.

Rhodes took a baseball bat to the scene and Jeffrey threw it at the vehicle.

The woman’s son got out and confronted them but was attacked.

Emma Clarke , prosecuting, read out a statement from the mother.

She said: “No one has the right to put you in fear of your life.

"The son said since the incident he had learnt that Jeffrey is a “'fighter' and 'could have seriously hurt him.'"

Rhodes, 23 and from Robinson Street, Preston, appeared in court after admitting public disorder and possession of offensive weapon.

Jeffrey, 34 and from Townsfield Road, Westhoughton, admitted both of these offences as well as possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of ammunition as well as possessing a firearm when being a person prohibited from having one.

Representing Rhodes, Eleanor Myers said he had not offended before or since and would be willing to take part in unpaid work.

Representing Jeffrey, Julian King said the weapon was not the usual type seen in criminal cases.

He said: “This is a historical item.

“It was used by the Belgium resistance in World War Two.

“It is an unusual type.

“He had an interest in firearms.

“It is the reason why he has found himself in the court again.”

The court heard he had previously been jailed for firearms offences.

Recorder Neil Usher said the incident the pair were involved in was “unpleasant” and added: “I have read the victim impact statements.

“Both of them were extremely afraid of what could have happened.”

He jailed Jeffrey for five years and placed Rhodes on a community order to run for a year and required him to do 80 hours of unpaid work, complete a drug rehabilitation requirement to last for nine months and attend at 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.