A MAN is facing at least five years in jail after police found a modified double barrelled pistol loaded with exploding bullets, designed to cause maximum damage, when they raided a house in Nelson.

Haroon Rafiq, 36, was arrested just before the find and was taken to the police station, where he threw water at a nurse and claimed he had loads of guns.

Rafiq was said to have told officers he had been shot five times in Barrowford and he had a gun to protect his family.

A firearms expert later reported the gun had been fired since it had been converted.

The defendant was also accused of threatening to kill a detective but was cleared of the allegation.

Rafiq, of Every Street, Nelson, was convicted of possessing a prohibited firearm.

He was also found guilty of possessing ammunition cartridges with bullets designed to explode on or after impact and common assault after a trial at Burnley Crown Court. He denied the charges.

Prosecutor Julian Taylor said the offences carried a minimum term of five years behind bars, except in exceptional circumstances. The defendant had a record but no similar offences.

Judge Jonathan Gibson remanded the defendant in custody until March 25 and said a pre-sentence report, with some assessment of Rafiq’s behaviour, might be of help.

He told the defendant: “I am required to impose a minimum custodial sentence of at least five years years. Expect a lengthy sentence, I am afraid.”

Mr Taylor had told the jury on June 29 last year, at about 8.45am, police went to a house in Pine Street, Nelson. The defendant was arrested.

In a bedroom they found a small pistol in a suit jacket in the wardrobe.

There were two rounds in the weapon and a further 10 rounds were discovered in the jacket.