Former Park Avenue player jailed for five years for carrying gun

6:00am Tuesday 6th January 2009

A semi-professional footballer arrested in Bradford city centre possessing a semi-automatic pistol and live ammunition has been jailed for five years.

Armed police were called in and Centenary Square cordoned off after Peter Naylor shouted to other officers that he had a gun and bullets, a court heard.

The former Bradford Park Avenue and Halifax Town defender was pulled to the ground and handcuffed after a police chase on foot from Kirkgate at 3.30am on March 29 last year.

A search of his home in Croft House Road, Wibsey, later revealed two Samurai swords and a bayonet, prosecutor Richard Smith told Bradford Crown Court yesterday.

Heavily-built Naylor, 23, who was a member of Cleckheaton Boxing Academy, pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited weapon, namely a semi-automatic 9mm pistol, and three live cartridges.

He also admitted having the weapon with him when he was arrested and to assaulting two police officers.

Mr Smith said Naylor intervened as police dealt with a large disturbance in Kirkgate.

He shouted and swung his fists after his brother Donovan was arrested. CS spray was used on Naylor but to no effect, Mr Smith said.

Naylor was chased by officers after he pushed, hit and kicked a constable.

As he fled, his hand went to his back pocket, the court heard.

After he was restrained, the unloaded gun was recovered, along with the bullets concealed in a glove.

Naylor told officers he thought the police were “roughing up” his brother. He said he did not intend to use the gun.

His barrister, Michael Reeves, said Naylor was a trained sportsman. He was given the gun by a friend and it was carried for intimidation only.

The weapon could not be fired without modification, said Mr Reeves.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC told Naylor it was a tragedy to see a successful sportsman before the court.

He conceded Naylor did not brandish the gun in a threatening way.

After the case, Detective Inspector Noel Devine, of Bradford South CID, said: “We take any offences involving a gun very seriously and particularly any offences in which our officers are threatened.

“This incident illustrates the daily dangers faced by unarmed police officers.

“They have arrested a man behaving in a violent manner only to find he is in possession of a firearm.

“An excuse given by Naylor in court was that he didn’t intend to use the gun but would have used it for intimidation.

“As this sentence demonstrates, no-one can have any excuse to possess such a weapon in these circumstances and I hope the sentence will serve as a warning to others.”

e-mail: jenny.loweth @telegraphandargus.co.uk