A man has been jailed after he was spotted by police putting a shotgun into the boot of his car at a petrol station in Penkridge.

Yesterday (7 May), Paul Hodkinson,50, from Uttoxeter, was sentenced to two years at Stafford Crown Court after he admitted to possessing a firearm without a certificate, possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of class A (cocaine) and possessing a controlled drug of class B (cannabis).

Hodkinson came to the attention of police on 31 August last year, when patrolling officers noticed an Audi which had two different number plates on the front and back.

Police watched as the Audi pulled up at a petrol station on the A449 next to another car.

Someone in the other car put something in the boot of the Audi before the car drove off.

Officers followed the car and pulled it over on Cannock Road.

A double-barrelled 20-bore shotgun was discovered by police in the boot of the car.

The gun had been stolen during a burglary in Kidsgrove, Newcastle-under-Lyme several years earlier.

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When Hodkinson was searched police found two snap bags of cocaine.

He handed over more cocaine while in custody.

Cannabis was also found in the car.

After being bailed with conditions, officers came across the 50-year-old again while he was driving on Market Street, Uttoxeter, on 16 October.

When Hodkinson was searched officers found three snap bags of cocaine and £110 in cash.

A snap bag of cannabis was also found in the vehicle.

Police then searched his Uttoxeter address and seized scales, empty snap seal bags and a snap bag with traces of white powder.

Hodkinson was charged with several offences and brought before the courts, where he pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.

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