A FATHER who turned his son into police after finding guns and bullets in his bedroom has blasted his three-year sentence as "harsh" and "stupid".

Neil Metcalfe, 43, said the decision by judge Christopher Cornwall could now act as a deterrent for other parents who want to take a responsible attitude towards their children.

He said: "Quite possibly now parents will be thinking I won't do what he did'."

He said he had "no regrets" about handing his son in but he strongly criticised the decision of Judge Christopher Cornwell to jail jis 19-year-old son Paul Metcalfe.

The teenager was imprisoned after admitting possessing a gun without a licence and 11 bullets.

Speaking from his home in Hibson Road, Nelson, following the case, Mr Metcalfe criticised the sentence and said he had been "through hell".

Judge Cornwall commended Mr Metcalfe for turning his son over but said the case highlighted the issues of potential gun crime facing Britain and said the defendant had to be dealt with firmly.

Metcalfe must serve 18 months of the term in a young offenders institution and the other half working in the community.

The teenager was passed over to police by his father last November after the bullets were found in a box under his bed.

Police raided the house, in Pine Street, Nelson, and found the 8mm Vendetta starting pistol, which had been moderated to fire real bullets.

Mr Metcalfe said: "I think the sentence is too much - I would have preferred two years or 18 months.

"I was expecting two years, which is similar to grievous bodily harm, but Paul did not hurt anybody.

"It is all coming to an end now but it has been total hell for us.

"I have not cried but that's just the way I am - someone has got to be there for the rest of the family."

"Quite possibly now parents will be thinking I won't do what he did'.

"I think the fact that they have said there's a mandatory five years sentence for firearms is wrong.

"What's the point in that? Five years is a deterrent but it is a deterrent for people handing their kids in."

However, he insisted he had "no regrets" about turning his son into police but added: "A lot of people might not be able to understand what I have done but I don't regret it. I am just upset about the length of sentence.

"After the incident last November, we were dragged down to the police station at 3.30am and forced to give a statement. But we were not thinking straight.

"Then with the sentences, there is no consistency - it is stupid really."

Now Mr Metcalfe is now preparing for life with his son locked up and was last night due to drive to Lancaster Farms young offenders institution to visit Paul behind bars and to drop off clothes.

He said: "It is going to be hard to get on with life now. It's difficult but what do you do?

"I will miss his 21st birthday but at least that gun is off the streets and no one will be shot with it."

Earlier Mr Metcalfe and his son had listened as Judge Cornwell sentenced the 19-year-old.

The court had been told that Metcalfe had stored the gun and bullets for some former older friends from the Pine Street area.

He had been offered £100 to do so but was threatened and had never revealed the names of the gang members to police.

Judge Cornwall said of the sentence: "It reflects the concern about the number of guns in the community."

He said Metcalfe had brazenly shown the gun to his sister's boyfriend, who then alerted Metcalfe's father.

The judge partly rejected the defence's argument that Metcalfe was a responsible carer for his disabled mother, saying he had smoked cannabis and "popped pills" in front of her.

He added: "It may well be that yet again the general use of cannabis has acted as a gateway from the respectful world that his parents intended to the foul and dangerous world of drugs."

Judge Cornwall also said the passing on of information to police about family members was "not unique" in serious cases but said Neil Metcalfe deserved to be commended for turning his son over.

The judge departed from the five-year mandatory term recommended by parliament and jailed Metcalfe for three years each for the gun and bullets, to be served concurrently.