Mexborough man Robbie Fardell has been jailed after a weapons package was intercepted

The interception of a weapon sent from China to Britain sparked a police investigation that ended with a man being jailed for five years.

Sheffield Crown Court heard how Robbie Fardell’s home in Park Road, Mexborough, was raided in July 2023 after Border Force officials discovered the package.

During the search, a Taser, an air gun, ammunition, as well as several World War II knives were found.

Fardell, 39, pleaded guilty to multiple firearms offenses and was sentenced Friday.

The court heard that some of the items discovered during the searches were found in and around the bed Fardell shared with his then-wife and sometimes his young child.

Fardell also had several zombie knives, German Wehrmacht knives, a disabled sawed-off rifle, volatile chemicals, batons, air pistols and “toy guns.”

Officers also found a book on firearms and ammunition and a 3D printer alongside a template for building rifles.

Fardell was later charged with two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of ammunition for a firearm without a certificate and possession of a firearm.

There was also a summary charge of bringing an imitation firearm into the United Kingdom, which related to the so-called “phantom folding warp revolver”.

The court heard how Fardell described himself as an “engineer, welder and gunsmith” on his Facebook page.

He claimed he bought the paintball gun for target practice and said the ammunition found was “a birthday present for display purposes”.

The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, told the court the situation would have been different if the paintball gun had been held alone by “an unsuspecting member of the public”.

He told Fardell: “This gun was not a toy, it was not used for that purpose.”

The court heard that Fardell suffered from a number of mental health problems.

Sentencing him, Judge Richardson told him: “I am concerned about the other items found in your house which in my view show an unhealthy mindset.

“Especially when this is coupled with the mental health issues you suffer from.”

In addition to the prison sentence, the judge ordered the destruction of items found in Fardell’s home.

A count of importing a prohibited weapon or ammunition with intent to evade a prohibition or restriction will remain on file, the court said.