A 29-year-old man from Ottos has been sentenced to 17 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.

Otis Jackson was sentenced on Monday by Acting Chief Magistrate Ngaio Emanuel after pleading guilty to both charges. He received one year and five months for the firearm offence and a concurrent six-month sentence for ammunition possession.

Police arrested Jackson on December 11 after stopping his vehicle during routine patrols in the Tindale Road area. A search uncovered an empty 9mm Smith & Wesson pistol and seven rounds of ammunition.

Jackson entered guilty pleas when he appeared in court on December 22 and was remanded to His Majesty’s Prison, where he spent Christmas in custody while awaiting sentencing.