A MAN who attempted to board a train out of Dorset with a sawn-off shotgun in a carrier bag has been jailed.

Mystery surrounds the case of Jamie Homer, who was arrested by police in Poole on March 30 this year.

Officers were alerted after a member of the public called 999 to report an incident at Bournemouth railway station

Homer, who is of no fixed abode, had approached the person to ask if there was a station where he could board a train without having to go through a barrier.

He also volunteered that he had a shotgun, a court has heard.

The defendant, 24, then began walking to the station at Branksome, where he was apprehended.

Police found a dissembled 12-gauge shotgun wrapped in waterproof clothing at the bottom of a JD Sports carrier bag.

A single cartridge was also in the bag.

Homer told officers: “I’m not going to lie to you.

“There’s a shotgun in the bag. I found it on the beach.”

He then refused to comment further, and has offered no explanation for the offence in court.

On Friday, he appeared before a judge at Bournemouth Crown Court for sentence after admitting possession of a firearm.

Due to its shortening, the gun measured 53.4 centimetres – less than the 60cm prescribed by an act of Parliament.

Judge Peter Crabtree OBE called the case “unusual”.

“I find it highly doubtful that [Homer] came by the weapon in the way described to police on his arrest,” he said.

“It seems reasonable to infer from the facts [he was] intent on leaving the Bournemouth area with it.”

Homer admitted the offence during a preliminary hearing, and the case was adjourned to allow for DNA and fingerprint analysis. However, the analysis was not undertaken ahead of the sentencing hearing.

Judge Crabtree said he could not assume Homer had ever used the gun, or that he was responsible for the shortening of the barrel.

“There is no evidence as to the background of the weapon,” the judge said.

Homer was sentenced to five years in prison – the mandatory minimum term specified by law.

As he went to the cells, the defendant gave a thumbs up and said: "Thank you, your honour."