DERRY MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO GUNS AND EXPLOSIVE CHARGES
A 21-year-old Derry man is awaiting sentencing after admitting having guns and explosives in the city last year.
Nathan Hastings, of Stradowen Drive in Strathfoyle, was arrested after police stopped two cars on Northland Road in April.
Police officers found a pipe bomb, a pistol, ammunition and two modified blank-firing handguns in one of the car, a Citroen Zara, being driven by Hastings.
The driver of the second car, a 54-year-old local man, was also arrested but later released unconditionally.
Hastings, a telecommunications worker from Stradowen Drive in Strathfoyle, was due to go on trial at Belfast Crown Court today charged with possession of firearms, imitation firearms, ammunition and explosives.
However, before the hearing got underway, he pleaded guilty after asking for the charges to be put to him again.
An earlier court hearing was told that the security operation had been “intelligence-led”.
He was remanded in custody to appear at Belfast Crown Court on 27 June for sentencing.
