A RABBIT-shooting man was caught using his shotgun without a licence in Herefordshire, a court has heard.

Nicholas White admitted possessing a shotgun without a certificate when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

Police were called to White at 3.30am on August 21 after he was seen by a person who believed he may have been poaching in Lyonshall, where he stays during the week, prosecutor Eleanor Peart said.

White told officers he had been shooting rabbits with the permission of the landowner.

He admitted he did not have a certificate for his Browning 525 12 bore shotgun, which was found on his quad bike, having had it revoked.

White admitted the shotgun had been looked after by a friend after he had lost his certificate and that he had retrieved it days earlier, on August 19, planning to apply for a new one.

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Philip Cornell, for White, said the 41-year-old had lost his shotgun certificate after the traumatic dissolution of his marriage four years ago, and had suffered mental health issues since.

"He was a transport manager for a window maker for 13 years and all that went," Mr Cornell said.

"His gun licence was taken away not because he was threatening anyone with it, but because it was not in its cabinet. Police gave his gun to a friend because he was someone who could be trusted, and he has had it ever since."

The court heard White had been told by police to let things settle before reapplying for his licence and felt he was in the position to do so, filling in the form to send off and ringing his friend to tell him this.

"His friend was in a rush and there was total confusion," Mr Cornell said.

"White was late getting there and his friend thought he had said he had his licence and was going on holiday. He had got the gun out and gave it to him and went off on holiday."

The court heard White had taken the gun back to his caravan in Lyonshall, and had got permission to shoot rabbits from the farmer on whose land he was staying.

"Of course this has dropped his friend in it as he has had his guns taken off him and is negotiating with police to get them back," Mr Cornell said.

White told magistrates he had called his friend to tell him that he was planning to send his licence application in and that he had a cabinet ready, but that his phone signal had been poor and that his friend had thought he had said he had got his licence back.

White, of Coronation Road, Six Bells, was fined £200 and his shotgun was ordered to be forfeited and destroyed. He must also pay costs of £135 and a £34 victim surcharge.