An Englishman who faced jail for possessing an airgun in Bermuda says tourists should be warned they are illegal without a licence.

Carl Tomlin, 22, bought the $50 pellet weapon at Disney World in Florida, as a present for his girlfriend's 13-year-old daughter.

He was arrested after gas cartridges were found in his hand luggage at Bermuda International Airport on his way home, and he admitted the gun was in his cargo luggage.

Tomlin spent two nights in the Police cells, and could have been jailed for up to two years at Magistrates' Court or fined up to $5,000. However, after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm, he ended up saddled with a $1,000 penalty.

He toldthat because the weapon was bought legally in Florida, and they are also legal in England, he had not realised he was falling foul of Bermuda's strict laws.

"I don't class it as a firearm. In my opinion, a firearm uses gun powder. This is just a CO2 powered BB gun that shoots about 400 feet ? a kid's toy I bought in Disney. There should be signs up at the airport about this," he said.

"I was a bit p****d off when I got arrested. Although the guys from the Serious Crime Unit treated me well and gave me pizza, I was in custody in a little cell like an animal. It was horrible."

Tomlin, from Bedfordshire, arrived in Bermuda on September 1 for a two-week internship at Dolphin Quest. He flew to the States on September 13 to surprise girlfriend Mandi Lovegrove, 36, and her daughter Holly who was celebrating her 13th birthday. He was attempting to fly back home to London via Bermuda when he was arrested on Monday.

"Holly feels upset that she's got me into trouble. The $1,000 fine works out around ?600 which is better than $5,000 or time in prison, so I am feeling relieved." But he added: "This is my first and last time in Bermuda."

During Tomlin's appearance before Acting Senior Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo, Crown Counsel Paula Tyndale said he had been attempting to board the evening British Airways flight to London's Gatwick airport when security screening revealed a CO2 cartridge in his hand luggage. The FirePower Interrogator C02 semi-automatic 106 gun was later located in his cargo luggage and Tomlin was arrested.

He told Police that when his family flew home to London their luggage was at maximum capacity, so he decided to pack the gun in his own case. He flew from the US to Bermuda, and when he returned to the airport the following evening for the London flight he had not unpacked his bags. Ms Tyndale recommended that Tomlin be fined.

Defence lawyer Rick Woolridge Jnr. said: "Although ignorance of the law is generally no excuse, Mr. Tomlin was on vacation in a jurisdiction where these items are permitted and in transit to another jurisdiction where they are permitted."

He said the gun had been discovered as a result of his client's honesty, and that he had had no ill intent and was unlikely to reoffend.

Addressing the court, Tomlin said: "I'm sorry. I didn't realise what the laws in Bermuda were on BB guns. It won't happen again."

Speaking after his client was fined, Mr. Woolridge said: "This is an unfortunate state of affairs. As we crack down on firearms offences in this jurisdiction, it has to be brought to the attention of the public as a whole that no form of firearm is going to be permitted. "It should be signposted in the airport in big letters. We advertise ourselves as an international jurisdiction and we need to make things more clear to international travellers who may be in transit."

Aaron Adderley, General Manager Designate at Bermuda International Airport said both the pink immigration form and the blue customs form tell visitors that firearms and ammunition are restricted goods.

Asked if he felt more guidance could be given that air guns fall within this category, he said: "If Customs or Immigration felt additional signs should be posted, we as an airport operator would try to accommodate that, but we have not heard anything so far."

In a statement, Collector of Customs Winifred Fostine DeSilva said: "In today's environment it would be inadvisable for anyone to travel with any type of projectile ? there are constant public alerts issued throughout the world advising passengers of the current Airline restrictions and enhanced security level, which impose strict prohibitions on the carriage of firearms and "ammunition.

"It is prudent for traveller's to make proper enquiries when crossing international borders as to the suitability of importing goods especially weapons of any kind.''