Councillor to appear before crown court judge on two firearms charges

A councillor has appeared in court on firearms charges.
Jeff Milburn leaves South Tyneside Magistrates Court.Jeff Milburn leaves South Tyneside Magistrates Court.
Jeff Milburn leaves South Tyneside Magistrates Court.

Independent Conservative councillor Jeff Milburn, 61, appeared in court charged with two counts of possession of a firearm without a certificate.

At South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, Milburn did not enter pleas to accusations he had two guns at his home on Sunday, March 15.

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Milburn, of Sunniside Lane, Cleadon, who is a councillor on South Tyneside Council has been released on bail and will appear at Newcastle Crown Court later this month.

Coun Jeff Milburn.Coun Jeff Milburn.
Coun Jeff Milburn.

He has been charged with two counts under the 1968 Firearms Act.

The weapons are a .410in single barrelled folding gun of 22.9in in length, and a 12 bore double barrelled hammer shotgun.

District Judge Kathryn Meek said the case should be heard at Newcastle Crown Court and adjourned it to Thursday, October 29.

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Milburn was granted bail on condition he resides at his home address and abides by a 7pm to 7am electronically monitored curfew.

He must also report to South Shields police station, between 10am and noon on Wednesday, October 28, as a reminder of his crown court appearance.

After listing other bail conditions, Judge Meek told his solicitor Val Bell: “Failure to do any of this and he can expect to be remanded in custody.”

Coun Milburn is a member of a number of committees on the council including being vice chairman of the Audit Committee and being a member of the General Purposes Committee, Licensing/Regulatory Committee, Planning Committee and the West Shields, Cleadon and East Boldon Community Area Forum.

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