A WOOTTON Bassett man could face jail after illegally buying parts over the internet for a 9mm pistol.

Yein Chew Yee, 21, of High Street, Wootton Bassett, pleaded guilty before magistrates in Chippenham to possession of a prohibited firearm between April 1 and May 17.

He has been given unconditional bail to reappear before magistrates on January 9.

Graham Baskerville, the chairman of the bench said if reports justified it, Yee could be jailed for up to six months.

Rhys Davies, prosecuting, said Yee bought a deactivated Block 9mm self-loading pistol, and set about acquiring parts to make it active.

"He rang the police and made enquiries about importing a 9mm handgun," said Mr Davies.

"He was asked whether he had a licence, and he said no, and was told by a police officer at the time that he would not be able to acquire a handgun."

Mr Davies said police told Yee it would contravene section five of the Firearms Act. He said police were subsequently contacted by the Customs and Excise Department in Bristol, to say Yee had been importing minor parts from overseas for a pistol. On further investigation, police discovered a firm in Hertfordshire had been sent a handgun by Yee.

"He wrote to them saying he was the owner and manager of a firm involved in firearms, called New Century Arms," said Mr Davies.

Yee gave his own address, told the Hertfordshire firm the gun was deactivated, but that he wanted it converted.

Police searched Yee's home, discovered the gun, and confiscated it. Officers also discovered two 9mm magazines of ammunition, a firing pin, and a filter for the barrel.

During interviewing, Yee told police he had bought the gun and then acquired parts over the Internet, with the aim of reactivating the gun.

Mr Davies said a forensic scientist examined the gun and concluded that, with a filter fitted to the barrel, the gun would have been capable of firing. "The defendant maintained that he did not realise that buying other parts was illegal," said Mr Davies. He said Yee was of previous good character.

Alex Daymond, defending, said Yee wanted to convert the gun for use in firing cartridges for paintballing.

He said his client had been ignorant of the laws surrounding ownership of guns.

"There was never any dubious intent on his behalf to turn this in to a normal live firearm," said Mr Daymond.

"These are the hallmarks of a man who did not appreciate the full consequences of what he was doing."