67-year-old with gun, ammunition and Taser at his South Cambridgeshire home is jailed

A 67-year-old who had a live gun, ammunition and Taser at his South Cambridgeshire property has been jailed for eight years.

Police found the haul when they raided the home of David Fairbairn, of Ermine Way, Arrington, in April 2020, during an extraordinary and complex investigation.

They discovered a revolver-type handgun and bullets, a Taser device and, in the barn next to his village home, 1,033 cannabis plants worth £867,000.

As the case developed, Fairbairn attempted to throw police off his trail with lies - and had to be treated for a gunshot wound.

Fairburn, who was prohibited for life from possessing any firearm or ammunition, was bailed following his arrest and told officers he was being threatened by people in charge of the cannabis factory.

It was while he was on bail, on July 5, 2020, that emergency services received a call from members of the public to say there had been a shooting at Whitewebbs Lane Park car park in Enfield, north London.

Witnesses who came to Fairbairn's aid had heard no gunshots but he insisted he had been shot at by two gunmen multiple times.

He was treated at the scene for a gunshot wound to the abdomen and taken to hospital.

Specialist crime detectives at the Metropolitan Police then launched an extensive investigation and arrested two men on suspicion of attempted murder following information provided by Fairbairn.

But as they continued to probe his story, he gave conflicting accounts.

Extensive CCTV work, forensic examination and mobile phone inquiries, along with joint working with Cambridgeshire police established that Fairbairn had lied about what happened to distance himself from the drugs and possession of weapons investigation.

The two men who had been arrested were released with no further action.

Fairbairn was sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday (November 17) to eight years in prison.

He had been found guilty following an eight-week trial earlier this year of perverting the course of justice.

He pleaded guilty to possession of ammunition without a certificate, possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of a firearm less than 30cm and possessing a firearm when prohibited for life.

There was a hung jury on the count of attempting or allowing production of cannabis, and the charge was left to lie on file.

Det Con Dan Harper, from Cambridgeshire police, said: “This was an extremely complex case made more so by Fairbairn’s blatant lies to police. This resulted in two innocent people being arrested.

“Fairbairn thought he could get away with his crimes by producing false evidence in order to throw us off the scent but his lack of knowledge of police investigative techniques and mistakes he made along the way became his undoing. I am glad the jury were able to see through his lies and unanimously convict him.”

Det Con Oliver Kotis, from the Metropolitan Police, added: “Any shooting results in considerable time and resources dedicated to finding the person responsible. Fairbairn’s actions that day led to an extensive investigation in the initial belief that there might be a dangerous offender out there with a firearm.

“I’m glad the jury have been able to see through his lies and he has now been convicted.”