Kenith Clifton Bulford, the man deported from Jamaica two weeks ago on firearms charges, appeared for mention in Magistrates? Court yesterday amid high security.

The 29-year-old Bermudian is accused of possessing an unlicensed 9mm AP9 pistol, 20 rounds of 9mm ammunition and five 3.75 Magnum bullets some time between March 1 and April 27, 2003. Dressed in orange prison clothes and a bullet-proof jacket, a handcuffed Bulford was shepherded into court through a back entrance by a number of armed Police officers.

All those wishing to enter the court room were searched at the door, and Bulford himself was heavily guarded while sitting in the dock.

His appearance was short lived, however, as defence counsel Richard Hector asked Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner for an additional week to consider the Crown?s evidence ? having only been handed the legal papers a few minutes before the morning proceedings began. Bulford will reappear in Magistrates? Court next Monday.