The army had to be called out after a collection of firearms were found in the attic of a house in Prestatyn.

They made sure the property was safe before police officers could go in amid initial fears that the door to the attic was booby trapped.

Mold Crown Court was told that the allegation of a booby trap was not being pursued.

But gun enthusiast David Moore, a lottery winner, received a suspended prison sentence after a number of weapons, including one prohibited weapon, were recovered from the attic of his home in Russell Drive, Prestatyn, on November 14, 2016.

He regarded them as antiques, which he had planned to clean up and display – but they had been stored by him for some 20 years.

Moore accepted that they were in fact firearms and needed certificates which he did not have.

He pleaded guilty to nine such offences and received a two-year prison sentence suspended for 21 months in what was described as an unusual case.

The weapons, ammunition and component parts recovered were confiscated.

Judge Timothy Petts said that the offences came to light when the guns were found by workmen called in to carry out work at the house.

He said that the army had to be called out to ensure that the area was safe.

“Multiple firearms, parts and ammunition were discovered in the loft,” he said.

“They were all genuine. For the most part they were old, but still potentially lethal in the wrong hands.”

It was accepted, however, that Moore had not used them, had no intention of using them and he had stored them for many years.

They had even moved house with him when he moved from the Midlands to North Wales.

He was a man of no previous convictions who indicated that they were simply his collection.

Moore had pleaded guilty, suffered ill-health both physical and mental, and his wife suffered serious illness, which necessitated weekly treatment in Birmingham, the court heard.

A six-month curfew 'tag' was imposed so that he would remain indoors between 7pm and 7am and would run from Saturday to Thursday so that he could accompany his wife for her treatments on Fridays, the judge said.

Judge Petts said the defendant did not pose a risk of danger to the public and there was strong personal mitigation.

Moore clearly knew that he required certificates for the multiple firearms which he kept over many years.

But it was unlikely that the courts would ever see him again.

It was an unusual case with no wider threats to the community, the judge added.

Prosecutor David Martin said that a drainage company had been sent to the defendant’s home because of a leak.

An employee had to go under the wood joists of the house and found an 1858 revolver in a bag, along with several boxes of ammunition.

Moore had denied any involvement with that weapon and that was not pursued in view of his guilty pleas to the other weapons in the attic.

The drainage company employee went to the attic where he believed the door was booby trapped – rigged to trigger a shotgun cartridge in the event of it being lifted. He slid the door open.

Mr Mainstone said the army made the place safe before police could investigate and as a result the evidence was not intact to establish whether the workman’s view had been correct.

But in the loft were a large number of different firearms, including the weapons the subject of the charges. There were revolvers and rifles, some of which dated back to 1853.

There were a number of components and items used to make ammunition in the loft and in the garden shed.

Interviewed, Moore said he was a collector of antique weapons and stored them in the loft. He denied that there was any booby trap and said he had bird scarers, which were boxed up and were of no harm to anybody.

Defending barrister Richard Edwards said that the case did pass the custody threshold but he asked for a suspended sentence in view of the unique personal circumstances of the defendant and his wife. They were effectively carers for such other.

The defendant suffered ill-health and his wife was seriously ill and required on-going treatment.

In 2012 the defendant had been assaulted and suffered a head injury which had required three months' rehabilitation.

It had affected his memory and his character had changed – he had become introvert and did not want to go out.

While the collection included a prohibited firearm, there was no ammunition for it.

The defendant’s interest in them were for their appearance and craftsmanship.

Mr Edwards said Moore had intended to clean them up and display them but in the meantime were wrapped up in the loft.

The defendant had been fortunate enough to win some money on the Lottery some years ago which allowed him to pay off his mortgage. But he was now on a limited income, the court was told.