A 44-YEAR-OLD Stroud martial arts instructor is facing a jail term of at least five years after police found a sawn off shotgun in his home.

At Gloucester Crown Court today Marin Skarica of Lower Street, Stroud, admitted having the shotgun, an antique .320 calibre revolver and a taser stun gun disguised as a torch, plus four rounds of .320 ammunition on September 8.

He also pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis between April 2 and September 9, 2017.

Prosecutor Janine Wood said police raided Skarica's home with a drugs warrant on September 8.

They found the sawn off shotgun and revolver hidden amongst dog food in the kitchen. The taser was also in the kitchen near the door.

Skarica's mobile phone had messages on it 'indicative of the fact that he was supplying cannabis.'

Mrs Wood said the Crown suspected that Skarica may have shortened the shotgun himself because metal filings were found in the house.

But defence solicitor Lloyd Jenkins said Skarica's case is that he bought the weapons from 'unsavoury characters from the travelling community' and the shotgun was already sawn off.

Mr Jenkins said Skarica has been in the UK since 2014 and has never claimed benefits. He works in the construction industry and also training martial arts.

"He says that basically the police got to him first before he could sell the weapons on and it was that simple."

Mrs Wood said she would like to time to investigate the question of whether the gun had been sawn off in Skarica's home.

"One can only assume that a sawn off shotgun was to be used in criminality because what other purpose could it be used for?" she said. "That relates to the taser as well. Accordingly we would suggest that the starting point for sentence should be on excess of the five year minimum."

Judge Michael Cullum remanded Skarica in custody until November 10 when he will be sentenced.

He said Skarica must produce a basis of plea giving his version of events before then.