Gillingham news
Pensioner jailed after hoard of 160 guns including machine guns and an AKM47 found at his home
Following the discovery of a cache of 160 firearms, including machine guns and an AKM47, at his residence, a retiree was sent in jail.
According to police, Paul Bushell, 74, entered a guilty plea to six counts of ammunition possession without a certificate and seven counts of possessing a prohibited weapon.
Firefighters were summoned to the old man’s home in Nelson Road, Gillingham, on Sunday, May 7, when they found the massive arsenal of firearms.
Machine guns, rifles (including an AKM47), revolvers, semiautomatic pistols, shotguns, and antique and replica guns (some kept in drawers) were among the weapons in the trove.
Numerous weapons were loaded and prepared for action.
When they put out fires in Bushell’s upstairs study that were caused by an electrical malfunction, Kent Fire and Rescue Services notified the police.
Officers searched the residence for four days and discovered a cache of 160 weapons in the study, loft, and basement.
At the address, police also discovered 126 rounds of ammunition and partially assembled weapons.
Bushell told officers he thought it was okay to own antique guns and that he was interested in history, especially the world wars.
Not intending to sell the firearms, he informed the officers.
At Maidstone Crown Court, during the sentence process, Judge Philip Statman commanded that the firearms and ammunition be destroyed.
Detective Inspector Susan Smith, a senior investigating officer, stated: “Bushell had an incredible collection of weaponry that could have been disastrous if they fell into the wrong hands.
The cause of the fire is being looked into.
Gillingham police are looking into a vehicle fire that started, but they are unable to rule out the possibility that the fire was started intentionally or accidentally. The Dorset Police team was alerted to the fire on the road between Milton Abbas and Bourton at about 2:30 pm on Sunday, June 30, and they are now looking for witnesses to the incident.
The event concerned a white Ford van that caught fire in the layby on Fantley Lane, a little distance outside of Silton. Traffic was barred from the road while emergency personnel battled the fire.
The fire department put out the fire and made arrangements for the car to be recovered. An inquiry is in progress to ascertain the origin of the fire.
Officers are now pleading with anyone who knows anything to come forward. “At this time the cause of the fire has not been confirmed and we are unable to say whether it was deliberate or accidental,” North Dorset Police Constable Ed Lewis stated.
“We are in the process of conducting investigations to determine the facts, and I kindly ask anyone who has any information about suspicious activity in the area or dashcam footage to come forwards.”
If you have any information, please get in touch with Dorset Police by phoning 101 and mentioning occurrence number 55220068133, emailing 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk, or visiting www.dorset.police.uk/contact. Alternatively, you can reach the independent charity Crimestoppers by phoning Freephone 0800 555 111 or by making an anonymous online donation at Crimestoppers-uk.org.
The body of a man in his 50s has been found in a town centre.
An elderly man’s body was discovered in Gillingham’s Green Street.
Police were called to concerns for the welfare of a man in Green Street, Gillingham at 1.22pm yesterday (June 26).
Officers and paramedics attended and a man in his 50s was confirmed to be deceased.
His death is being treated as non-suspicious and a report has been completed for the coroner.
The body of a man in his 50s has been found in a town centre.
Police were called to concerns for the welfare of a man in Green Street, Gillingham at 1.22pm yesterday
When police and paramedics arrived, it was determined that the man, who was in his 50s, had died.
His death is being investigated as non-suspicious, and the coroner has received a completed report.
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