A man convicted for holding a "small armoury" in a tool box at his Liverpool home has had his jail term raised from six years to eight years by the Appeal Court.
Peter Ralphs, 38, of Parbrook Road, Huyton was told by The Lord Chief Justice that offenders hiding lethal weapons make a "significant" contribution to the amount of firearms used on streets.
Following submissions from the Attorney General, Baroness Scotland QC, the court agreed that the original jail term handed down by a judge at Liverpool Crown Court last June was "unduly lenient".
Lord Judge said Ralphs, who pleaded guilty, "fell to be sentenced on the basis that he was the minder, but not the distributor or supplier, of lethal weapons".
On November 27th last year police searched Ralphs' property to discover "a small armoury consisting of two lethal weapons together with ammunition capable of use in each weapon".
Lord Judge said: "One was loaded, the other was fully set for automatic firing. The armoury included a great deal of additional ammunition and a silencer."
He added: "The particular aggravating features of the case are that the offender was in possession of more than one lethal weapon with ammunition fit for use in both lethal weapons, together with a silencer.
"The problem of pressures and intimidation are real, but those who provide a safe hiding place for weapons like these make a significant and distinctive contribution to the use of firearms on the streets and elsewhere."
The Attorney General, Baroness Scotland QC said “The fact that Peter Ralphs was harbouring a ‘small arsenal’ of weapons and ammunition is a very serious crime indeed and I’m delighted that the Court of Appeal has reflected this fact by adding another two years to his six year sentence.
"I hope this sends out a clear message to people who offer “safe” hiding places for guns – that you will be given a severe sentence”.
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