A Cumbrian man has been jailed for 15 years after a police crime unit seized its biggest ever haul of firearms.

Paul Holmes, 50, from Holme near Kendal, was sentenced today at Carlisle Crown Court. He had pleaded guilty to 14 firearms offences last month.

The prosecution follows a joint operation led by TITAN (the North West’s regional organised crime unit), assisted by Cumbria Police and the National Crime Agency (NCA).

TITAN began to investigate and observe Holmes after information suggested he held illegal firearms. It was discovered that he had lived in Australia for a number of years but returned to Cumbria after being convicted of firearms offences.

TITAN detectives were joined by search teams from Cumbria Police and officers from the NCA last November, to execute warrants at the defendant’s home address, a farm outbuilding in Milnthorpe and a garage in Morecambe - both also owned by Holmes.

During the search in Holme officers found a well-equipped workshop containing various machines and tools believed to be capable of use in manufacturing firearms. There was also equipment for reloading bullets and two handguns.

The haul of illegal firearms and ammunition seized in Milnthorpe included sawn-off shotguns, rifles, a handgun, disassembled shot guns together with bullets of varying calibers.

In Morecambe, a large amount of shotgun and rifle ammunition was recovered, making a total of more than 2,400 rounds of ammunition seized in the raids.

TITAN say the haul is the unit's biggest ever seizure of firearms.

“I am delighted with today’s sentence and I think it sends out a strong message that those involved in the manufacture of firearms can expect no leniency from the courts. This massive haul of weapons recovered from Paul Holmes posed a direct threat to our communities and I am sure it is shocking to some that such a large amount of guns and ammunition were recovered in a quiet rural location. Joanne Edwards, Detective Superintendent at TITAN