A former scaffolder acquired an antique handgun in order to end his own life, a court heard.
Jacob Nash’s 100-year-old pistol was discovered on his bed together with six .22 bullets. The gun was capable of firing the shells.
Prosecutor Julian Lynch told Oxford Crown Court that Nash, 24, had been in his bedroom at his grandmother’s home in August 2020 when he began making bizarre comments.
They included a claim that ‘if he was to stab his grandmother’s partner he would be able to escape through a painting’.
Police officers arrived and found Nash sitting beside 16 knives arranged in a line on a sofa.
“They detained him and he continued to make some comments which made little sense in the context,” Mr Lynch said.
He was sectioned under the Mental Health Act and held for four months.
Mitigating, James Partridge said his client had acquired the gun intending to take his own life. Formerly a scaffolder, Nash’s mental health had begun to deteriorate in the last three years.
In the two years since his arrest, he had been receiving treatment – including from one psychiatrist he described as his ‘soul healer’.
A keyworker from Oxfordshire Mind, who accompanied him to Thursday’s sentencing hearing, called him her ‘star pupil’. His improvement was such that he had been able to move out of supported housing and into accommodation of his own.
Mr Partridge said he had not troubled the judge with pictures handed to him by Nash that showed a piece of land he had bought. He hoped to establish ‘some form of temple’ on the site in order to help others.
“He’s a young man who’s had profound problems, who has worked very hard to address [his] problems,” the barrister said.
Nash, of Regent Street, Oxford, pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition.
Sentencing, Judge Ian Pringle QC told Nash: “You should know that the possession of that pistol carries a minimum of five years’ imprisonment and the guideline suggests five-and-a-half years imprisonment unless it is unjust to do so.”
Taking into account the psychiatric reports, the judge said he believed it was unjust to impose the lengthy jail sentence. He added: “However, make no mistake; possession of those types of article passes the custodial threshold.”
Nash received 18 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years. He must comply with a two-year mental health treatment requirement and up to 20 probation sessions.
After he was told the jail term would be suspended, meaning he would only go inside if he committed further offences or failed to comply with the order, Nash said from the dock: “Thank you. You have a good heart.”
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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.
To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk
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