A visitor from the United States who was caught with a loaded revolver in his baggage has been jailed for ten days.

Terry Jasper came to the Island last Tuesday to celebrate his 35th anniversary.

He was detained as he tried to leave Bermuda yesterday when an X-ray scanner at LF Wade International Airport revealed a .38 revolver in the front part of his luggage.

As he was arrested the 52-year-old told police: “It was a stupid mistake. I did not realise it was there.”

The court heard that Jasper owned between 35 and 50 firearms in the US where he worked as a plumbing contractor and was a keen hunter.

Today at Magistrates’ Court Jasper was jailed for ten days after admitting possessing a prohibited weapon.

He said: “I just want to say I’m sorry. I did not realise this was going on.

“It was an innocent mistake. I did not mean to break the law.”

His lawyer Marc Daniels said his client was “petrified” of going to jail and that he had forgotten the gun was in his bag.

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo said there was no reason to deviate from the Supreme Court’s guidance that firearms offences should result in immediate imprisonment.

He added: “The law applies to both residents and visitors alike.”

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