Shotgun man is jailed

BEHIND bars . . . Bret Charlton

A CHADDERTON man has been jailed for five years after police found a shotgun, ammunition, a machete and cannabis plants at his home.

Bret Charlton, of Coalshaw Green Road, was convicted of possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition and production of cannabis.

Minshull Street Crown Court heard that just before midnight on February 17, officers on routine patrol spotted a Vauxhall Astra being driven suspiciously in Chadderton.

The car was stopped on Fields New Road and Charlton, who was a front seat passenger, ran off holding a sports bag.

Officers went to his house a short time later where they found the bag which contained a shotgun and ammunition.

Officers also found a machete, stab-proof vest, balaclava and about a dozen cannabis plants.

Det Segt Ian Webb, from Oldham CID, said: “While we do not know what Charlton was doing driving around the streets late at night with a shotgun, it is clear had the car not been stopped and the weapon recovered, something extremely serious may have happened.”