Man had swastika flag, picture of Hitler and loaded gun in bedroom

A MAN had a loaded semi-automatic gun in his bedroom along with a large amount of Nazi memorabilia including a swastika flag and framed picture of Adolf Hitler, a court has heard.

- JASON EVANS Court and crime reporter

The Belgian-made firearm was fitted with a silencer and had five live rounds in the magazine when it was found on top of Shaun Grindle's wardrobe.

The 66-year-old's barrister told Swansea Crown Court that they were his instructions that the defendant was not a member of any "far-right, Nazi, neo-Nazi or extremist organisation".

Handing the defendant the mandatory five-year prison sentence, the judge told him the possession of guns was treated very seriously in the UK and those who engage in such behaviour must expect "serious consequences".

Georgia Donohue, prosecuting, told the court police attended Grindle's home on November 10 last year in response to a call from the defendant about a missing person.

She said when officers entered Grindle's bedroom they found a "large amount" of items including a full-size swastika flag, military posters, a framed picture of Adolf Hitler, and a replica German stick grenade. They also found a birthday card to the defendant with a picture of Hitler on it.