Gun criminal went on the run for two years (From Warrington Guardian)

Gun criminal went on the run for two years

A CREWE man who went on the run for two years after a firearms offence has been brought to justice.

Paul Milne, aged 24 and formerly of Clough Walk, was found guilty in July 2002 of possessing a prohibited weapon and having a firearm whilst disqualified, along with Alexander Emslie.

The two had been in Milne's car when they were stopped by police in Davenport Avenue, Crewe. Police found a gun inside the vehicle, although it was not loaded.

Emslie owned the gun but the jury believed the prosecution's case that Milne had tried to hide it from the police and both men were convicted.

Emslie was jailed for four years but Milne, who was on licence from a young offenders' institution after an earlier conviction, failed to appear in court.

He had left his girlfriend, Vicki Scragg, who was seriously ill with heart and drug problems, and run away to Scotland.

In Kilmarnock he made a new life for himself and gained employment.

On Monday, at Warrington Crown Court, his barrister Patrick Williamson argued that Milne's good record during the last two and half years should be taken into account.

Mr Williamson said: "It is an offence of great public concern but the defendant's role is at the lower end of the spectrum.

"He is now maturing rapidly and is a person who presents a low risk of further offending.

"Whilst he made two bad decisions in absconding and doing this offence in the two years that have passed he has made substantial progress.

"For two and a half years he has behaved properly and respectably. Consider the man before you and the progress he has made."

Recorder Keith Bush jailed Milne for a total of 21 months - one year for the offence, three months for breaching his bail conditions and six months for breaching his early release licence.