Man Jailed 5 Years for Gun Found with Nazi Memorabilia

A 66-year-old man has been sentenced to five years in prison after police discovered a loaded semi-automatic pistol in his bedroom alongside extensive Nazi memorabilia, including a Swastika flag and framed picture of Adolf Hitler.

Shaun Grindle, of Maes y Capel, Pembrey, Carmarthenshire, was handed the mandatory minimum sentence at Swansea Crown Court after pleading guilty to possession of a prohibited firearm and five counts of possession of ammunition without a licence.

The Belgian-made firearm was fitted with a silencer and contained five live rounds when officers found it in a box on top of Grindle’s wardrobe during a visit to his home on 10 November last year in response to a missing person call.

Police also discovered a “large amount” of Nazi items including military posters, a replica German stick grenade, and a birthday card featuring Hitler’s image, the court heard.

Grindle’s barrister James Hartson told the court: “They were his instructions that the defendant was not a member of any far right, Nazi, neo-Nazi or extremist organisation.”

The defence claimed the weapon and materials had been “loaned” to Grindle “effectively as a job lot” by another person, and that he kept the gun for “protection” out of fear of being “framed.”

Mr Hartson added: “It was a poor choice.”

Judge Catherine Richards said: “The possession of guns is treated very seriously in the UK and there are serious consequences for those who engage in such behaviour.”

She noted that whilst there was no evidence of wider criminality, “the source of the gun is a concern” and the presence of the weapon amongst a “significant amount of Nazi material” was an “obvious concern.”

The judge sentenced Grindle to five years in prison with no discount for his guilty plea. He will serve up to 40% of the sentence in custody before being released on licence. 📊