A VALLEYS man who claimed he discovered a signal flare gun, bullets and a can of CS spray while out walking his dog, was sentenced to five years in prison yesterday.

Lee Williams, 42, of Twynderyn Flats, Ebbw Vale, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court after pleading guilty to possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of ammunition without a firearms certificate, possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of expanding ammunition.

Williams’ house was searched on April 27 last year where officers found a tobacco tin in a chest of drawers which contained a signal flare gun pen and a separate metal tube with a thread and end which if attached was capable of firing .22 ammunition.

Officers also found 14 rounds of live ammunition, five of which were round nosed and nine were hollow - both designed to expand on impact.

It was not revealed in court why police raided his home.

Sian Phillips, prosecuting, said a canister containing CS gas was also found in the kitchen.

She explained how Williams told police in interview that he had found the items while walking his dog near a rubbish tip about a mile away from his home.

Matthew Roberts, defending, said Williams was a man of clean character and of employment and had excellent references.

He said there was nothing to suggest he had used the items or that he was going to use them.

But the Recorder of Cardiff, Nicholas Cooke QC, refused to believe Williams’ explanation about how he found the items.

He said there was a possibility that Williams was lying to protect someone and said there was no shred of proof about how the items came into his possession.

He said Williams’ version was "implausible" and that he was "very stupid".

The Recorder said Williams’ explanation that he thought the rounds of ammunition were blanks was also unconvincing.

He said the signal flare gun was a "sinister weapon" and easily concealed.

Williams was sentenced to five years in prison for possession of the prohibited firearm.

He was also sentenced to eight months in prison for each other count to run concurrently.

The Recorder also ordered for the forfeiture and destruction of the firearm, ammunition and gas canister.