A FORMER landlord who had air guns at a pub when he was banned from keeping them has been told he will not be jailed.

David Johns, who was landlord at the Queen Anne pub in Junction Road, Deane, was arrested after police found the weapons in a raid on the pub last September.

They were searching for cannabis, which they did not find, but found the air guns in an electricity cupboard. Johns, aged 33, of Bolton Road, Blackburn, appeared at Bolton Crown Court and admitted two counts of possession of a firearm when prohibited and two counts of possession of ammunition when prohibited.

He had been banned from keeping the weapons for five years after being jailed for 33 months for two assaults.

Johns said he was looking after them for his exgirlfriend’s son. Judge Steven Everett took into account the fact that he had already spent several months on remand.

He added: “You spent a substantial time in custody and now you are subject to a suspended sentence, so I am not proposing to send you into custody.”

The case was adjourned until October 7 for sentence.