A man who pleaded guilty to illegal possession of three firearms — one of them a rifle — and ammunition was last week sentenced to life in prison in the High Court Division of the Gun Court, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has reported.

In a news release issued last Friday the ODPP said Nicholas Hibbert was sentenced on June 9 after pleading guilty to five counts under the Firearms (Prohibition, Restriction and Regulation) Act, 2022.

According to the ODPP, on March 6, 2024 about 11:30 am, police armed with a search warrant in the name Nicholas Hibbert arrived at a targeted location in Central Village, St Catherine.

Upon their arrival Hibbert, who was standing at the gate of the premises, looked in the direction of the police, ran, and attempted to lock himself inside the premises.

The police prevented him from bolting the grill and Hibbert ran inside the house. The police pursued and caught up with him at the back of the house.

“The man identified himself as Nicholas Hibbert, o/c Dun Dun, o/c Blacks and the warrant was executed on him,” the ODPP reported.

The bedroom was searched in Hibbert’s presence. The police saw and searched a barrel in the room and found one black revolver with six rounds of ammunition.

“The police also found one silver and black pistol with one round of ammunition in the breach. That round was placed in a magazine which had other cartridges in it,” the ODPP said.

“The accused, after the items were found, said, ‘Officer, please don’t kill me.’ The accused was cautioned and asked if he had a permit or licence for a firearm and he replied ‘No.’ He also said to the police, ‘A nuh mine, officer,’ ” the ODPP said.

The ODPP also said a search of the rear of the premises was conducted. The police observed a knitted bag partially visible in the ground and used a shovel, which was nearby, to retrieve the bag inside which they found a rifle.

“The accused was asked if he had a licence and responded by saying, ‘No,’” the ODPP reported.

Hibbert was escorted, along with the firearms, to Central Village Police Station where he was arrested and charged. When he was cautioned he said, “Officer, mek me carry unnu guh show unnu weh one more deh and unnu give me a chance,’ ” the ODPP reported.

The office said that Hibbert was indicted for three counts of possession of prohibited weapon, one count of unauthorised possession of ammunition, and one count of stockpiling prohibited weapons.

He pleaded guilty to all five counts on the indictment on March 3, 2025 before Justice Lorna Shelly-Williams in the High Court Division of the Gun Court.

On June 9 he was sentenced to 21 years and nine months’ imprisonment on counts one, two and three for the offences of possession of prohibited weapon. He is to serve 15 years before being eligible for parole.

On count four, for the offence of unauthorised possession of ammunition, Hibbert was sentenced to life imprisonment and will not be eligible for parole before 20 years.

He was also sentenced to life in prison on count 5 for the offence of stockpiling prohibited weapons and is to serve 25 years before being eligible for parole.

The sentences are to run concurrently.

The prosecution was represented by Crown Counsel Sara Cochrane-Spencer while Hibbert was represented by attorney Donahue Martin.