Jail for pair who tried to smuggle a stun gun, pepper spray and knuckle-duster through Doncaster airport

Jonathon Sutton-Kirkby, 23, of Duke of York Avenue, Wakefield, and Frederick Ayres, 28, of Bloemfontein Street, Cudworth, South Yorkshire, were caught trying to smuggle the weapons through Robin Hood Airport on October 2.

Both men were jailed for two-and-a-half years at Doncaster Crown Court today.

When border officials searched their bags at the airport, Ayres was found to have a pepper spray canister, two flick knives, a knuckle-duster, a swordstick and an extendable baton.

A search of Sutton-Kirkby’s bag uncovered an electronic stun gun, a pepper spray, an extendable baton and a knuckle-duster.

They had landed on a flight from Bourgas, Bulgaria.

The pair both pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon and to possessing a firearm at a hearing at Doncaster Magistrates Court earlier this month.

The pepper sprays and the electronic stun gun are classified as prohibited weapons defined by the Firearms Act. The other items are all classed as offensive weapons.

Malcolm Bragg, assistant director at the UK Border Agency said: “Knives and firearms are deadly weapons, which destroy lives and are a blight on the communities in which we live.

“The UK Border Agency has robust controls in place at all our borders to stop these items entering the country.

“This case should serve as a warning to those seeking to smuggle dangerous weapons into the UK. We will catch you and you will be prosecuted.”