A NEWPORT man found brandishing an air gun despite being banned from owning firearms claimed he didn't realise it counted.

Edward Athay, 21 of Baird Close, appeared at Newport Magistrates' Court yesterday to face charges of possessing an air weapon when prohibited for five years and possessing an air weapon in a public place.

Catherine Yardley, prosecuting outlined the case.

She told the court: "Officers were called to Boyle Close in Maplas at 4.15pm on December 22, following reports of a person with a weapon.

"The defendant was at the canal and following a short foot chase he was detained."

The court heard Athay had been banned from owning a firearm for five years following a previous conviction in March 2004.

Paul Lewis, defending added: "This is a genuine error for this defendant, he walked into a shop and they sold him the weapon for £200.

"The police stopped him when he was using it.

"He's already out £200 for his error.

"He wouldn't have gone out to buy a shotgun because he knows it's a firearm but he didn't realise an air weapon was a firearm."

Magistrates imposed a 12 month community order, £43 in costs and ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the weapon.