A “PUBLIC-spirited” pensioner photographed carrying a huge tank shell away from the danger area at Lulworth Ranges this year said he was trying to protect children playing nearby.

Alan Barlow, of Primrose Gardens, in Poole, and his daughter’s fiancé, Jason Kelly, of Redhoave Road in the town, were each pictured shouldering a 120 millimetre practice shell on May 6.

The images, printed in the Daily Echo shortly afterwards, sparked an appeal from the MoD for information, leading Barlow, 71, to contact military police.

Both he and Kelly, 33, were given an absolute discharge at Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court yesterday morning, despite both men pleading guilty to an offence of taking possession of a projectile and removing it from the danger area without lawful authority.

Jonathan Morrissey, mitigating, said the men, accompanied by Barlow’s daughter, Judi, and wife, Jennifer, visited the area on the May bank holiday this year for a walk.

“They had a very pleasant walk finished in a steep ascent,” he said.

“At the top of this was a notice and this was the only notice they had seen. I am aware there are notices with regard to local bylaws but Mr Barlow and his colleagues were not in a position to see them.”

As they came to the end of the walk, Barlow saw a number of children playing by the clifftop.

Mr Morrissey said: “This was concerning and drew him to them.

“On the way there, they noticed a pile of disused shells – maybe half-a-dozen or more. They were clearly not live because of the presence of concrete.”

However, the men were concerned that the children might be able to roll them off the cliff and decided to take them away.

“They made the decision to put the shells in the car,” said Mr Morrissey. “He was public-spirited in an inappropriate way.”

He added: “There is no nefarious or sinister intent here.”

Barlow, who works part-time as a science technician and senior midday supervisor at a local school, wore a navy suit and red tie to court.

His future son-in-law did not appear, choosing instead to post his guilty plea to the court.

The men were charged £85 each in prosecution costs.