Thomas Kennedy leaving court on an earlier appearanceSWINDON DRUGS HOTLINE: A MAN has admitted hiding a handgun inside the chimney of his Swindon home.

Thomas Kennedy, of Edington Close, Toothill, also pleaded guilty to possessing heroin and cannabis during his appearance at Swindon Magistrates' Court yesterday.

The 30-year-old was arrested on March 4 after police raided his house a raid reported in the Advertiser when a reporter and photographer attended.

Richard Thomas, prosecuting, said: "The handgun, ammunition, heroin and cannabis were recovered from his home address.

"The firearm was on a shelf inside the chimney space and there were three rounds of ammunition inside the magazine.

"There was some £60 worth of heroin in his bedroom and £350 worth of cannabis behind the toilet in the bathroom.

"He Kennedy said someone had given him the gun but he said he had not used it and had no intention of using it."

Rob Ross, defending, said Kennedy accepted he was responsible for the weapon but was not a drug dealer.

"There is no evidence that he was involved in drug dealing the items were for personal use," said Mr Ross.

Kennedy was snared after armed police stormed two houses in Toothill uncovering a drugs and weapons stash.

Pupils at nearby Oliver Tomkins School were caught up in the drama as police sealed off a 400-metre area around Edington Close.

Officers said the raid formed part of Operation Crackdown- designed to root out heroin and crack cocaine dealers.

It was the second time in months that police recovered drugs and firearms from the West Swindon area.

Days after the operation a Toothill family who spent almost 24 hours in police custody, contacted the Adver to clear their name. Two pepper sprays and a small quantity of marijuana was recovered from Linda Harvey's home.

But Mrs Harvey, who said she was 100 per cent against drugs, said she didn't know pepper sprays were illegal.

She believed police thought she had taken drugs from her neighbour's house. No further action was taken against Mrs Harvey or her family.

Kennedy was committed to Swindon Crown Court for sentencing.

There was no application for bail.