A Wild West fan charged with illegal possession of a rifle, believed to have been used by British soldiers fighting the Zulus in 1879, has won his case.

In a sensational twist today at Bingley Magistrates' Court, the prosecution dropped all charges against Allen Ambridge, 49, of Gilstead.

Prosecutor Jane Farrar formally asked for the application to be discharged. She said although the case could have gone before a jury it was a long, involved and complicated matter and the chances of obtaining a conviction were not good.

Defending, Keith Blackwell, said it was clear that the outcome would have been the same at Crown Court.

Afterwards Mr Ambridge said: "This has been going on since October - it's been a complete nightmare and I feel that I have been victimised.

"I am happy to have won my case but I am bitter about how it has been handled. I am now going to continue my appeal against the revocation of my firearms and shotgun licences.

"These were revoked without valid reason in July last year when I was described as being unfit to own a firearm and a danger to the public safety and peace in owning a shotgun.

"I firmly refute those statements as they have no grounds in reality and I am seriously considering taking legal action against the senior officer concerned. No good reasons or explanations were given for these comments, which hurt."

When the licences were revoked, a rifle, pistol and six shotguns were taken away from Mr Ambridge. Then in October he was charged with illegally possessing the antique rifle he had bought at a Blackpool flea market for £600. The prosecution claimed it was still technically a firearm.

He added: "I have held a firearms certificate since 1976 but my experience with firearms goes back to 1966.

"I am considering a claim for compensation for the stress and worry over the last eight months and also for damage I believe to have been caused to the weapon due to the forensic officer's description of how he got the gun to fire again."

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