“I accept you had no malicious intent with the gun.” So sayeth UK Judge Howard Crowson as he sentenced 53-year-old actor and military enthusiast Kevin Burgon to three years and four months in prison for possessing a 1937 Beretta handgun [not shown] and 49 rounds of ammunition. You may recall Mr. Burgon as a tank driver in the film Fury. You may not; it was a bit part by any standard. But by all accounts — including the one published in hartlepoolmail.com — Mr. Burgon is (was?) a model citizen. A fact that the judge acknowledged as he sent Mr. Burgon to jail until early 2018, two years and six months earlier than the mandatory minimum . . .
Judge Howard Crowson said he had taken note of the early guilty pleas and 12 character references submitted as part of the defence case.
Judge Crowson said: “I accept you had no malicious intent with the gun, you are a man with interest of memorabilia of this type.
“But these are very serious offences, and you know the sentences in cases of this nature are particularly draconian unless there are truly exceptional circumstances.
“It is my duty to impose this sentence on you.”
The judge also ordered the gun and ammunition was forfeited and destroyed.
This in the country where the phrase “a man’s home is his castle” was invented. Involving a man who legally owned Winchester, Springfield and Enfield rifles without any mishap or misadventure of any kind.