A Bedford man found with a stolen shotgun in his wardrobe told police he had discovered it among rubbish outside his flat.
Paul Purdy, 43, Severn Way, said he had not wanted the weapon to fall into the hands of children and had stored it away.
But the gun, worth £500, and ammunition was found during a police raid at the one bedroom flat on 16 May 2003 and Purdy arrested.
At Luton Crown Court on Friday, Purdy admitted illegally possessing a shot gun and theft by finding and was given a two year community
rehabilitation order.
The court heard the gun had been stolen from a car parked in Church Lane, Arlesey, Bedfordshire, four months earlier on 11 January.
Elizabeth Goodall, defending, said Purdy had found the gun three days before the police raid and asked for credit for his guilty plea.
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