A MAN who was caught with two firearms in his car told a court he only had them with him to shoot rats.

Chris Davies pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a firearm when he appeared at South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court.

Magistrates heard his vehicle was parked outside Churchills in Bowness when police officers located two air rifles hidden on the backseat.

The 47-year-old, who works in the Lake District and lives in Manchester, represented himself in court.

“I had borrowed the guns; we were chasing rats around,” he said.

“We have since got pest control involved.

"There was no malicious intent with the weapons it was just to shoot the rats.”

Davies told magistrates he had believed his possession of the weapons was lawful as they were hidden inside a locked car but he accepted he had broken the law.

“I honestly didn’t think there was anything wrong with them being there, nobody could see them, but I understand now that the law still interprets that as being an offence,” he added.

Magistrates heard Davies had last been before the courts in 2014 and was released from custody in 2015.

He told the court: “I’ve not been in any trouble since then; last time I was in custody I was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and since then I’ve been getting treatment and tackling my problems.

“Whereas before I might have reacted to a situation without thinking now I have ways to challenge and plan my behaviour.”

Davies told magistrates he works four days a week in the Lakes and then travels back to Manchester on Sunday nights to look after his children for two days and allow their mother to go to work.

He explained this would prevent him from being able to be given a curfew but said he would have no problem with completing unpaid work as long as it could be done on Mondays and Tuesdays in Manchester.

Following discussions with Brian Carruthers from the Probation Service magistrates agreed it was a suitable punishment.

Davies, of Tarves Walk, Openshaw, was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work in the community.

He must also pay £85 court costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

Magistrates also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the two air rifles.

As he left the court Davies said: “Thanks for treating me so fairly.”