A CRIMINAL with a long history of violence has been jailed for possession of two sawn off shotguns.David McAllister, 45, of Parkside, Haverhill, was first sent to prison in 1971.

A CRIMINAL with a long history of violence has been jailed for possession of two sawn off shotguns.

David McAllister, 45, of Parkside, Haverhill, was first sent to prison in 1971.

Ipswich Crown Court heard from his previous record that McAllister had spent much of his adult life in jail for crimes including escaping custody, arson and robbery.

In jailing him for three and a half years, His Honour Judge John Holt told McAllister: "Your record is perhaps one of the worst that could be considered in this type of offence."

McAllister had admitted having the two guns at a house in Parkside in an earlier hearing. He had been found guilty by a jury of possessing an illegal folding blade.

When police arrested McAllister in connection with another offence he denied any knowledge of the Parkside address.

But Simon Spence, prosecuting, told the court when the house was searched fingerprints belonging to the defendants were found.

McAllister also had a key which fitted a lock at the premises.

Mr Spence said the police search uncovered the two sawn off shot guns in the hall and a number of cartridges in the kitchen.

Christopher Morgan, defending, said his client was aware of the likely outcome of the hearing.

But he said McAllister had become unable to cope with normal life due to his regular spells in jail and the time could soon come when alternative punishments should be considered.

Mr Morgan accepted that time had not yet arrived and handed in a personal letter from his client to reinforce the impact any jail term would have on him.

Judge Holt said that McAllister would serve three years for having the two guns and a further six months for possession of the knife.