A LITTLEPORT father of two has admitted owning 18 rounds of live ammunition without authority. Christopher Slatter had left the ammunition for a .243 Winchester rifle at his father s Burwell home, and it was found in a gun cabinet when police executed a f

A LITTLEPORT father of two has admitted owning 18 rounds of live ammunition without authority.

Christopher Slatter had left the ammunition for a .243 Winchester rifle at his father's Burwell home, and it was found in a gun cabinet when police executed a firearms warrant in July.

Slatter, 34, of Longfield Road, Littleport, had not seen the ammunition for about 12 years, Ely magistrates were told by solicitor Michael Judkins.

"He had forgotten all about it," added Mr Judkins. "It was a small quantity of ammunition; he had not thought about it for at least 12 years, it had been stored in a safe place."

The 18 rounds of semi jacketed soft point ammunition incorporating a missile designed to expand on impact dated back to the late 1990s' Slatter told police.

He had believed it had been properly disposed of, but did admit to its ownership.

"The ammunition has lain untouched for at least 12 years," said Mr Judkins. "He held a certificate for this ammunition until 2005."

Giving Slatter a 12-month conditional discharge and ordering him to pay �85 court costs, presiding magistrate Janet South said: "This was a genuine oversight on your behalf.