Jail for man caught with loaded AK-47 rifle

Kane Clarke, 27, pleaded guilty to two charges last month at Leeds Crown Court

A man caught with a loaded AK-47 assault rifle at his home in Leeds has been jailed.

Police officers found the automatic weapon, along with 30 rounds of live ammunition, in the cellar at the home of Kane Clarke in Leeds last November, after he had been arrested on suspicion of unrelated offences.

At Leeds Crown Court in December, Clarke pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited automatic weapon and possession of ammunition.

On Wednesday, the 27-year-old, of Kelsall Road in Hyde Park, was sentenced at the same court to five years in prison.

Police found the weapon in Clarke's cellar after he was arrested for unrelated offences

Speaking after Clarke was sentenced, Det Insp John Graham, from West Yorkshire Police, said: "This is a military grade weapon designed for the battlefield and is something that can have only one deadly purpose in the hands of criminals.

"It is extremely rare for firearms of this type to be found in circulation and thankfully this one has now been taken off the streets.

"We hope the significant prison term he has received will provide some reassurance to the community and remind those who involve themselves in this type of crime of the penalties they can expect."

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