Ralli News

Author, Dave Courtney, cleared of weapons charges
Fri 11th Dec 09 - 9:35

Celebrity author Dave Courtney has been cleared of having three guns illegally at his "Camelot" home.

A jury at the Old Bailey took just two hours to find him not guilty of three charges of having prohibited weapons. The court was told swords and guns were "festooned" over the walls of his King Arthur-themed home in Plumstead, south London.

But Courtney, 50, said they were on the walls as ornaments, along with suits of armour and swords.

Auditors were sent in to look for assets after Courtney became bankrupt earlier in 2009. They called police, who found three banned weapons - a gas cartridge firing handgun and rifle, and a gold sprayed "James Bond" revolver which shot blanks.

Courtney told the jury the weapons were part of the stock of his wife Jennifer's theatrical props business.

When asked why he put them on the walls, he said: "It's better than having them in boxes under the stairs."

Paul Cavin, prosecuting, said of the property: "It is fair to state that there is more than a little element of castles and King Arthur."

Mr Courtney has produced and starred in his own film, which featured in the Cannes film festival in 2001, and told the court he had written nine books.

Stuart Page, Associate at Ralli acting on behalf of Mr Courtney said:

"This is a case where on a strict interpretation of the law Mr. Courtney was guilty.  A common sense approach was taken in this case by the jury and it is really an illustration of when the application common sense by the jury can still see justice be done, however it is a pity the Police and CPS did not see fit to apply such common sense and as a result Mr. Courtney has spent 6 months in prison on remand and the case has cost the taxpayer a large amount of money."