A PROMISING rugby league player, who was on the books of the Bradford Bulls, has been locked up for more than five years after he was found in possession of a double-barrelled sawn-off shotgun.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Jack Taylor, 19, had played for the Bulls and been scouted by Super League’s Huddersfield Giants.

But Judge Jonathan Rose told him yesterday: “You had the possibility of a career in rugby league, and you worked with the Bulls. That would have been a bright future for you. You have thrown it away.”

Prosecutor Heather Gilmore told the court that police constables Panther and Musket stopped a Ford Focus in Spindle Close, Tyersal, in the early hours of February 11 this year.

Taylor was driving and his co-accused, Nathan Kuyateh, was the passenger.

The officers could smell cannabis.

Kuyateh produced two small bags of cannabis. Several wraps of heroin and crack cocaine were found down his trouser leg. He was also found in possession of £400 cash.

Taylor was found with a bag of cannabis and £525 cash secreted in his underwear.

During a search of Taylor’s home, officers noted a bright yellow carrier bag hanging on coat hooks. Inside was a sawn-off shotgun wrapped in a towel. The weapon was ornately decorated and of some age, but was a viable firearm and the stock and barrels had been shortened.

Taylor, of Bradford Road, Birkenshaw, pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited firearm and possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

His solicitor advocate, John Bottomley, said the weapon was an antique gun and there was no ammunition. His client was holding it for another person. He was storing it and had no intention to use it.

But Judge Rose told him: “You were looking after it for somebody else. Whoever that person was, he or she could only have wanted it in order to commit serious criminal offences.”

He said a sawn-off shotgun was a particularly evil weapon, with no legitimate function. He said Taylor had possessed a “terrible and dangerous” firearm.

He sentenced Taylor to five years’ youth custody for the firearm offence, and a further six months for the cannabis offence.

Kuyateh, 28, of no fixed address, was jailed for four years. He pleaded guilty to possessing, heroin, and crack cocaine with intent to supply.

He had previously received a two-year sentence for possessing cocaine, heroin and cannabis with intent.

Judge Rose said it was a painful duty to impose substantial prison sentences because they were both very young men with the ability to live good and decent lives. But he added: “You have both chosen to involve yourselves in the drug trade. It can bring misery and harm.”