Waringstown man given jail term after bullet was found in his overnight bag as he attended Craigavon Court for sentencing

Stephen Andrew White, aged 42, from Windsor Close, Waringstown, appeared before the court via video link from Magilligan Prison.

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He faced a single charge of possessing ammunition without a certificate.

The court was told that on August 13 last year, White was remanded into custody at Craigavon Crown Court.

“He was brought to the custody cells by custody staff where he was asked to empty his pockets. When he did so, a bullet was found in his possession,” a prosecutor outlined.

"This bullet was assumed to be a live round and police were informed,” she said.

Forensics later confirmed the bullet to be a .45 callibre live bullet prohibited under firearms legislation.

During interview, White claimed to have found the bullet several years previously whilst at work and denied knowing the bullet was a live round.

White’s barrister Mr Conor Lunny described it as a “bizarre case”.

Mr Lunny said his client was in the Crown Court in Craigavon and had been “in and out of the security sanger on a number of occasions”.

The barrister said due to his record he knew what was going to happen and he had packed his overnight bag ahead of sentencing.

Mr Lunny said he was trying to get an explanation for why he packed the bullet. He said White has “very severe ADHD” and is “prone to thoughtlessness”.

“But why he thought it was a good idea to bring this bullet in, knowing full well where he was going, is beyond me,” said the barrister, adding his client works in removals and has “maybe picked it up on his travels”.

He added: “He has never had a gun. He’s not in those types of circles. He wouldn’t have had any access to any gun to fire this bullet.”

Deputy District Judge Gerard Trainor said White is “used to offensive weapons, drugs, fireworks and all sorts of stuff”.

He sentenced White to one month in prison and issued a destruction order for the bullet.