At Nottingham Crown Court on 3 December 2013, Rebecca Draper, Managing Director of the long established family business, Drapers Airgun Centre in Nottingham, was cleared of all charges in relation to allegations of supplying component parts of prohibited firearms.

The Police and Prosecution were hoping this was in some way going to be a test case as to whether a firing pin is classified in law as a ’component part’ of a firearm, and therefore subject to the same controls as the complete firearm to which the part belongs. However, that flies in the face of custom and practice in the gun trade since at least 1937. Laura Saunsbury, our specialist firearms law solicitor, and expert firearms barrister Nick Doherty, who together make a formidable legal team, were recommended to Rebecca Draper by the Gun Trade Association, the trade body for gun dealers in the UK. Through meticulous preparation, and working closely with the best expert witnesses in the country, Laura and Nick were able to undermine the validity of the Prosecution case to such an extent that it could not proceed.

In entering not guilty verdicts on all charges and discharging Miss Draper, the Judge commented the defence lawyers had obviously investigated the matter very carefully. Rebecca Draper and her family were absolutely delighted with the result. As she and her father, Christopher Draper, left court they agreed to be interviewed briefly by the press. In expressing her gratitude to us, Miss Draper stated “We obviously got the best team of firearms lawyers in the country. I can’t thank you enough; you don’t know what you’ve done for me and my family”.

Published with the kind permission of our client. Below, Miss Draper outside court after being acquitted with firearms barrister Nick Doherty.